Policies and Statutory Requirements
There are several policies and statutory requirements that guide and inform VTrans. These requirements have changed over the years. OIPI’s Statewide Transportation Planning (STP) section conducts biennial review to remain up to date.Key Requirements
At the federal level, VTrans addresses the requirement to develop a statewide transportation plan 23 CFR § 450.216 and to develop a state freight plan 49 U.S.C. § 70202.
At the state level, there are several transportation planning requirements or related items in the Code of Virginia that are addressed by VTrans. Some of the key requirements are:
- Develop and Update Statewide Transportation Plan § 33.2-353: OIPI to assist the CTB in the development and update of a statewide transportation plan.
- The Role of OIPI § 2.2-229: OIPI is to assist the CTB in the development of a comprehensive, multimodal transportation policy, which may be developed as part of the Statewide Transportation Plan pursuant to § 33.2-353.
- Statewide Prioritization Process for Project Selection § 33.2-214.1: Projects and strategies shall be screened by the CTB to determine whether they are consistent with the assessment of capacity needs in VTrans.
- Eligibility for Revenue-sharing Funds § 33.2-357: Board assigns second priority to transportation needs identified in VTrans.
List of VTrans-Related Policies and Statutory Requirements Items
This technical memorandum documents statutory and regulatory requirements as well as other items related to VTrans.
Please use the filter controls below to search for a specific VTrans-related policy or statutory provision.
- Year: 1968
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Lays out the federal requirements related to development of the statewide transportation plan
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/23/135
- Year: 1994
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Lays out the federal requirements related to development of the statewide transportation plan
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/5304
- Year: 2001
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Provides further guidance to states after 23 U.S.C. § 135.
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/23/450.216
- Year: 2016
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Provides guidance on when updated federal requirements must be reflected in Statewide Transportation Plans.
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/23/450.226
- Year: 2010
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Provides guidance on the statewide planning process with respect to federal coordination and performance-based planning requirements
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/23/450.206
- Year: 2016
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Provides more detailed guidance on state requirements to coordinate transportation planning.
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/23/450.208
- Year: 1978
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Describes regulations regarding state asset management plans for National Highway System including bridges. It does not reference statewide transportation plans but highlights the need for the asset management plan to make progress towards the state performance targets.
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/23/119
- Year: 2012
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Describes requirement for states and transit providers to develop transit asset management plans. It does not reference statewide transportation plans but requires the adoption of TAM performance targets.
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/5326
- Year: 2015
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Each State that receives funding under section 167 of title 23 shall develop a freight plan that provides a comprehensive plan for the immediate and long-range planning activities and investments of the State with respect to freight. A State freight plan may be developed separately from or incorporated into the statewide strategic long-range transportation plan.
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/70202
- Year: 2008
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Lays out minimum requirements for State Rail Plan Contents
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/22705
- Year: 1979
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Sets out requirements for states to complete State Rail Plans including the required contents of the Plan and updates to the plan.
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/266.15
- Year: 1994
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Important reference outlining requirements for regional planning in urbanized areas.
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/5303
- Year: 2012
- Enacting provision: Federal Code
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Important reference outlining requirements for conducting performance-based transportation planning, including establishing and reporting on performance measures and targets.
- Weblink: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/23/150
- Year: 1985
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Outlines the state requirements for the statewide long-range transportation plan.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter3/section33.2-353/
- Year: 1975
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Requires local comprehensive plans to be consistent with the statewide transportation plan.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter22/section15.2-2223/
- Year: 1950
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Requirement to note Corridors of Statewide Significance on local comprehensive plan transportation maps.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter22/section15.2-2232/
- Year: 1950
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Gives the CTB the authority to require that projects added to the SYIP be consistent with the statewide transportation plan.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter2/section33.2-214/
- Year: 2014
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Requires that applications in SMART SCALE be screened to determine if they address a Need identified in the statewide transportation plan needs assessment.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter2/section33.2-214.1/
- Year: 2002
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Details the role of OIPI in completing the statewide transportation plan.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter2/section2.2-229/
- Year: 2002
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Outlines the requirement to develop a Statewide Pedestrian Policy.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter3/section33.2-354/
- Year: 2006
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Outlines the requirement to develop mobility goals for populations with limited mobility.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter3/section33.2-355/
- Year: 2006
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Requirement for localities developing a comprehensive plan to send the draft plan for review by VDOT.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter22/section15.2-2222.1
- Year: 2006
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Allows for projects based on the statewide transportation plan needs assessment to be included in consideration for revenue-sharing funding.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter3/section33.2-357/
- Year: 2015
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Requires funds in the High Priority Projects program to be used for projects that address a need from the statewide transportation plan needs assessment.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter3/section33.2-370/
- Year: 2015
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Requires funds in the District Grant program to be used for projects that address a need from the statewide transportation plan needs assessment.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter3/section33.2-371/
- Year: 2013
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Requires the VDOT Commissioner to have a plan for ROW acquisition along CoSS’s included in the statewide transportation plan needs assessment.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter10/section33.2-1004/
- Year: 2011
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Important reference outlining state requirements for regional planning in urbanized areas.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter32/section33.2-3201/
- Year: 2014
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Regulations pertaining to Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission.
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title33.2/chapter26/section33.2-2605/
- Year: 2021
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: The Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment shall make public, in an accessible format whether a project has been designed to be or the project sponsor has committed that the design will be resilient
- Weblink: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+CHAP0051
- Year: 2020
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Program established to improve the safety, reliability, and travel flow along interstate highway corridors in the Commonwealth
- Weblink: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodeupdates/title33.2/section33.2-372/
- Year: 2021
- Enacting provision: Code of Virginia
- Requirement: No
- Brief description: Development of Regional Trail System
- Weblink: https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendment/2021/2/HB1800/Introduced/CR/447.10/1c/
- Year: 2011
- Enacting provision: CTB Policy
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: OIPI will monitor and coordinate initiatives in the VTrans Implementation Plan. OIPI will provide Implementation Plan progress reports to the Board twice per calendar year.
- Weblink: https://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2011/oct/Agenda_Item_5_VtransAction_Plan_Resolution_.pdf
- Year: 2015
- Enacting provision: CTB Policy
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: VTrans Travel Market, Regional Networks (RN), was established as part of this policy.
- Weblink: http://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2015/dec/reso/Resolution_VTRANS.pdf
- Year: 2018
- Enacting provision: CTB Policy
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: OIPI will monitor and coordinate initiatives in the VTrans Implementation Plan. OIPI will provide Implementation Plan progress reports to the Board twice per calendar year.
- Weblink: https://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2018/dec/res/15approval-of-the-vtrans-implementation-plan.pdf
- Year: 2020
- Enacting provision: CTB Policy
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Actions to Approve the 2019 VTrans Vision, Goals, Objectives, Guiding Principles and the 2019 Mid-term Needs Identification Methodology and Accept the 2019 Mid-term Needs (2020)
- Weblink: https://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2020/jan/res/19.pdf
- Year: 2020
- Enacting provision: CTB Policy
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: VDOT, DRPT, and OIPI will implement the SMART SCALE Prioritization Process in accord with the updated SMART SCALE Technical Guide and maintain the SMART SCALE Project Change Guide.
- Weblink: https://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2020/feb/reso/5.pdf
- Year: 2021
- Enacting provision: CTB Policy
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: The proposed policy for the prioritization of the VTrans Mid-term Needs as outlined in the proposed Policy Guide for the Identification and Prioritization of the VTrans Mid-Term Needs will be followed to prioritize VTrans Mid-term Needs and the prioritized 2019 VTrans Mid-term Needs will be accepted.
- Weblink: https://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2021/march/reso/14.pdf
- Year: 2009
- Enacting provision: CTB Policy
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Approval of the VTrans2035 plan update and also served to establish the VTrans travel markets of Corridors of Statewide Significance, Regional Networks and Urban Development Areas pursuant to VA Code § 15.2-2223.1.
- Weblink: https://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2009/dec/resol/Agenda_Item_NB_2_VTrans2035_Resolution.pdf
- Year: 2011
- Enacting provision: CTB Policy
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: This policy establishes Northern Virginia North-South Corridor of Statewide Significance.
- Weblink: https://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2011/may/resol/Agenda_Item_4_CoSS_Amended.pdf
- Year: 2021
- Enacting provision: CTB Policy
- Requirement: Yes
- Brief description: Actions to adopt the Policy for Development and Monitoring of VTrans Long-term Risk and Opportunity Register, VTrans Strategic Actions, and direct submittal of a summary of the VTrans planning process to the Governor and the General Assembly.
- Weblink: https://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2021/dec/res/9.pdf