SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 263

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules

on ________________)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Aird)

Requesting the Department of Transportation to study the need and options for constructing a bridge from Surry County to James City County or Charles City County. Report.

WHEREAS, Surry County has recently completed a successful broadband access project, bringing high-speed Internet to residents of Surry County; and

WHEREAS, as a result of such investment in Internet and data infrastructure, Surry County is experiencing an increase in visitors to the locality and a need for more housing stock; and

WHEREAS, Surry Power Station is one of Dominion Energy's two nuclear assets in the Commonwealth, and the nuclear facility, which is located adjacent to the Hog Island Wildlife Management Area, provides clean, carbon-free energy to power 420,000 homes and employs thousands of Virginians in full-time and part-time jobs; and

WHEREAS, a bridge connecting Surry County to James City County or Charles City County is desperately needed to support new growth in Surry County; and

WHEREAS, such bridge would benefit transportation throughout the entire Hampton Roads region and therefore requires a statewide approach to planning and funding; and

WHEREAS, consideration of the location of potential infrastructure is needed to ensure such proposed route would not impact Jamestown or any other historical assets in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Transportation be requested to study the need and options for constructing a bridge from Surry County to James City County or Charles City County.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Transportation for this study, upon request.

The Department of Transportation shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2026, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2027 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.