BILL FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION ADVANCES, BILL TO REGULATE DIGITAL BILLBOARDS HELD IN COMMITTEE, DEPT. OF TOURISM SHARE UPDATE
ST. THOMAS- Members of the Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection, chaired by Carla J. Joseph, convened in a meeting at the Capitol Building. Officials from the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works provided testimony on two measures regarding Bill No. 34-0232, a long-range program for construction and road improvement, and Bill No. 34-0237, to regulate digital advertising boards and smart message boards. Ultimately, lawmakers voted in the affirmative for Bill No. 34-0232. However, Bill No. 34-0237 was held in committee at the call of the chair. The approved item will be forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration.
2022-08-10 20:17:55 - VI News Staff
Bill No. 34-0232- An Act amending Title 20 of the Virgin Islands Code, chapter 3, section 42 relating to the Governor’s initial report to the Legislature on a long-range program for the construction and improvement of roads and highways throughout the Virgin Islands; to change the time and frequency for the Governor to submit the report to the Legislature; and to establish procedures and minimum standards for paving and constructing roads in the Virgin Islands and for other related purposes. Senator Javan E. James is the sponsor of the bill. Derek Gabriel, Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, noted that the bill is a duplicate of the provisions currently in place at DPW. Gabriel stated that DPW has reports and tools that resemble various aspects of the proposed legislation.
One example of the duplication is the Territorial Highway Program Implementation and Stewardship Agreement between the Federal Highway Department of Public Works. According to Gabriel, the agreement requires highway roadway construction projects, inclusive of repairs and maintenance, to be constructed in compliance with the Standard Specifications of the United States Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. Similarly, Jeffrey Fleming Jr., Project Manager for Island Roads Corporation, stated that the bill is unnecessary. Fleming said that the construction of roadways should be left to the experts, such as engineers, not codified in a bill, or else flexibility is limited. Senator Joseph indicated that it is important to have the flexibility of road construction to include advancements and changes in technology. We are working in collaboration to build a bigger and better Virgin Islands.