Bill Text: VA HB1804 | 2017 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Practical design standards for projects.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-07 - Left in Transportation [HB1804 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2017-HB1804-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §33.2-261 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§33.2-261. Value engineering required in certain projects.
The Department shall employ value engineering and practical design methods in conjunction with any project on any highway system using criteria established by the Department, including all projects costing more than $5 million. For the purposes of this section, "value engineering" means a systematic process of review and analysis of an engineering project by a team of persons not originally involved in the project, and "practical design methods" means practices that are designed to achieve more focused transportation improvements at lower costs by taking into consideration existing conditions and designing only those essential improvements that meet the project's purpose and need. Such team may offer suggestions that would improve project quality and reduce total project cost, ranging from a combination or elimination of inefficient or expensive parts or steps in the original proposal to total redesign of the project using different technologies, materials, or methods. Such practical design standards may (i) focus on improvements that meet but do not seek to exceed the project's initial objective; (ii) encourage flexibility to meet a project's objective; (iii) seek cost savings; and (iv) allow for the reuse of existing infrastructure when feasible.
After a review, the Commissioner of Highways may waive the requirements of this section for any project for compelling reasons. Any such waiver shall be in writing, state the reasons for the waiver, and apply only to a single project.
