FIFTY-NINTH WYOMING LEGISLATURE
APPROVED INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDIES
2008 INTERIM
JOINT TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS INTERIM COMMITTEE
Standard Budget: $25,000
Priority # 1 Commercial Vehicle Fees
Review and compare all fees charged to a commercial vehicle, including; comparison of fees charged in neighboring states for vehicles of substantially similar loads and lengths; study implementation of systems to update and streamline commercial vehicle fee imposition and collection; increased penalties for speeding commercial vehicles.
Priority # 2 Revision of Selected Transportation Related Statutes
Study the feasibility and impact of revising Wyoming Statute sections concerning: vehicle titles and registration; vehicle rentals; abandoned vehicles; school bus driver hours of operation; and cost of implementation of the REAL ID program. [Modified by Management Council]
Priority # 3 Interstate-80 Issues
Investigate issues related to increasing traffic and diminishing federal funding for I-80. The review will include: highway improvements necessary to accommodate projected traffic growth, including, widening all or part of the highway to six lanes; impact of overweight commercial vehicles as compared to other passenger and commercial vehicles; advisability of a toll road, toll lanes or privatization; analysis of potential funding sources for highway and rail improvements.
Priority # 4 a. Military Department – Camp Guernsey Usage and Funding
Study the recent and projected future usage of Camp Guernsey by all branches of the military including, active duty, National Guard and reserve; identify possible additional funding streams to Camp Guernsey generated by current and future military training needs; and investigate the impact of increased usage and staffing of the Camp on the Town of Guernsey and study solutions to alleviate that impact; also study the military family assistance fund.
Priority # 4 b. Mental Health Services.
Review of activities regarding veterans mental health needs funded during the 2008 legislative session and review of the adequacy of federal mental health services in meeting the needs of returning Wyoming service men and women. [Note: Study 4 b. was added by Management Council]
Priority # 5 WyDoT Funding
Review the overall funding structure of the Department of Transportation, including: sources of funding; adequacy of funding; sufficiency of program user fees in relation to actual program costs; possible alternative funding sources for highway construction (privatization, tolls, new permanent fund); non-highway construction and maintenance costs and funding streams with an emphasis on coordination with other state and federal agencies; impact of changes in federal funding.
Priority # 6 Reports to Committee
The Committee will receive various reports from the Department of Transportation, the Military Department and the Veterans' Commission that may result in proposed legislation.
Tentative Meeting Schedule:
The Committee anticipates three 2-day meetings, including a meeting May 7 and 8 in Gillette to discuss WyDoT funding, statutory changes and I-80 issues, a meeting July 23 and 24 in Douglas to discuss Camp Guernsey, Military Department and Veterans' Commission issues, and I-80 funding and construction, and a meeting in Cheyenne October 15 and 16 to consider additional WyDoT and Military Department issues and proposed legislation.