After making huge cuts to its transportation program over the last several years, Virginia plans to put billions back into the system in the coming ones, funding a widening of Interstate 66 and building high-occupancy toll lanes along Interstate 95. The turnaround comes largely from Gov. Bob McDonnell’s $4 billion transportation package, which passed the General Assembly this year and includes about $3 billion in borrowed money.
“Thanks to the bipartisan support of this year’s transportation package, we will make an up-front investment in restoring our transportation system and addressing these critical needs,” McDonnell said Wednesday. “These projects will benefit all regions of the commonwealth, both rural and urban, and will help provide jobs for thousands of Virginians in desperate need of work without raising taxes.”
In addition to money for interstate projects like I-66 widening, the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s draft six-year plan, unveiled Wednesday, also includes funding to widen Route 28 in Prince William County and for improvements along the Fairfax County Parkway.
| Major Northern Virginia projects in state highway plan |
| • I-66 widening project from Gainesville to Haymarket — $132 million project starts in 2015, will take three years to finish. |
| • Columbia Pike Streetcar Project — $35 million toward the implementation of Arlington County’s streetcar project; design work could begin in 2013 |
| • I-95 high-occupancy toll lanes — construction of 29 miles of HOV/HOT lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Fairfax County. About $52 million from the state; the majority of funding would come from the private sector. |
| • I-395 HOV ramp at Seminary Road — Construction of a high-occupancy vehicle ramp from I-395 to Seminary Road to ease congestion at the Mark Center in Alexandria. |
| Source: Virginia Department of Transportation |
Still, not all of the effects will be felt immediately. There is $1.4 billion available for major public-private projects, which includes a recently announced plan to build 29 miles of high-occupancy toll/high-occupancy vehicle lanes on I-95 from Fairfax County to Stafford County, which may not be done until 2015.
“Money is allocated to these projects as best as possible to support the local priorities,” said McDonnell spokesman Jeff Caldwell. “Whether it’s a priority or not, different projects have different complexities and have to go through different processes.”
The plan would provide $50 million for Metro capital improvements and maintenance next year. The improvements are part of a 10-year deal between the federal government, which will pay $150 million, and D.C. and Maryland, which will pay up $50 million each.
The draft plan will be presented to the public during a series of hearings in April and May, with a final adoption from the Commonwealth Transportation Board expected in June.
One of the hearings is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 4 at Virginia Department of Transportation’s Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax.
