*NOTE: This section was created by emergency legislation that will expire on March 8, 2023.*
(a) There is established as a special fund the Bus Service Enhancement Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by DDOT in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Provided that the Chief Financial Officer certifies that sufficient revenue exists pursuant to [§ 50-921.83], there shall be deposited into the Fund general retail sales tax revenue collected pursuant to Chapter 20 of Title 47 as follows:
(1) In Fiscal Year 2023, $2.5 million; and
(2) For each succeeding fiscal year after Fiscal Year 2023, $10 million.
(c) Money in the Fund shall be used to improve transit access or service in areas identified in DDOT's Multimodal Long-Range Transportation Plan as areas of high transportation need or historically underserved communities, or to serve residents of those areas as follows:
(1) Making payments to WMATA to:
(A) Create new bus routes not in operation July 1, 2023; or
(B) Extend service hours, shorten headways, or make other service improvements for an existing bus route;
(2) Used by DDOT to:
(A) Operate new DC Circulator or DC Streetcar routes not in operation before July 1, 2023;
(B) Extend service hours, shorten headways, or make other service improvements for an existing DC Circulator or DC Streetcar line; or
(C) Install, lease, maintain, or operate infrastructure that DDOT determines will increase ridership or improve transit service, including dedicated transit lanes, signal priority, bus shelters, payment kiosks, or other amenities; or
(3) Funding studies to support increased ridership or improved transit service.
(d)(1) The money deposited into the Fund but not expended in a fiscal year shall not revert to the unassigned fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the end of a fiscal year, or at any other time.
(2) Subject to authorization in an approved budget and financial plan, any funds appropriated in the Fund shall be continually available without regard to fiscal year limitation.".
(Dec. 8, 2022, D.C. Act 24-699, § 2(b), 0 DCR 0.)
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 11aa of Fare-Free Bus Funding Emergency Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-699, Dec. 8, 2022, 0 DCR 0).