Subcommittee reports substitute directing Hampton Roads Planning District Commission to build regional readiness framework

Del. Anthony presented a substitute for HB 12‑41 directing the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) to develop a regional and fiscal readiness framework to evaluate project sequencing, affordability, equity and federal leverage for transportation and infrastructure in Planning District 23. The sponsor said the substitute is modeled in part on Northern Virginia’s planning work and is intended to complement, not duplicate, VDOT’s technical role.

VDOT and regional officials, including the HRPDC executive director, testified in support. The HRPDC director described a history of regional coordination that produced $6 billion in regional projects and said the framework is designed to align transportation and flood‑prevention needs. Committee members asked for explicit inclusion of urban roads; Del. Anthony accepted a friendly amendment to add primary urban and secondary roads to the substitute language.

The subcommittee voted to report the substitute and refer it to appropriations; the clerk recorded the motion to report with substitutes and the bill was reported out 9‑0.