The 1976 Virginia General Assembly, responding to the needs of the citizens of Norfolk and Virginia Beach and to the transportation needs of the Commonwealth as a whole, passed the following resolution establishing a commission to study all aspects of the Norfolk-Virginia Beach Expressway.

Pursuant to the directive of this resolution, the following persons were appointed from the membership of the two houses of the General Assembly to serve on the Commission: Senator Joseph T. Fitzpatrick of Norfolk, Senator Peter K. Babalas of Norfolk, Senator A. Joe Canada, Jr. of Virginia Beach, Delegate Glenn B. McClanan of Virginia Beach, Delegate George N. McMath of Accomac, Delegate William T. Parker of Chesapeake and Delegate Robert E. Washington of Norfolk. The Commission's membership selected Delegate Glenn B. McClanan to serve as Commission Chairman, and Senator Joseph T. Fitzpatrick to serve as Commission Vice Chairman.

The Commission met four times during the course of its study. Two of the meetings included public hearings, one of which was held in Virginia Beach, the other in Norfolk. The Commission received testimony from individual citizens and representatives of interested citizen groups in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach region. The cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, as well as -the Southeastern Virginia Planning District Commission also assisted the Study Commission with testimonial contributions. The Commission also enjoyed close cooperation offered by the Department of Highways and Transportation, the Office of the Attorney General, and Virginia National Bank. The materials and statistics provided by the State agency, often on short notice, benefited the study greatly.

The testimony received led the Commission to three major areas of concern (1) a reduction in the Expressway tolls now; (2) a complete elimination of the tolls as soon as possible; and (3) that necessary improvements be made immediately.