Virginia CTB approves $6.3 million six-year transit and rail spending plan

The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved the Fiscal Years (FY) 2024 to 2029 Six-Year Improvement Program, which allocates more than $6.3 billion in funding to public transportation and rail programs over the next six years. The six-year allocation includes $4.98 billion for public transportation projects in the commonwealth, $50.4 million for rail projects and $1.32 billion for Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) Transforming Rail in Virginia projects. The funds are administered by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).

 “The six-year program advances the commonwealth’s commitment to improving the quality of life for Virginians through an integrated multimodal transportation system,” said DRPT Director Jennifer DeBruhl. “The budget focuses on investing in infrastructure and innovative projects aimed at providing safe and reliable public transportation and rail networks to support Virginia’s economy.”

Within the FY24 allocations is $810.6 million in funding for public transportation projects that will improve bus stops and replace aging transit vehicles and $93.2 million for VPRA Transforming Rail in Virginia projects. State funding will go toward Transit Ridership Incentive Program projects that improve regional connectivity and reduce barriers to transit use for low-income riders. The program also funds enhancements to the rail network, such as rail crossing upgrades to improve safety.

Northern Virginia’s Commuter Choice Program

A sub-allocation within the public transportation funding is $48 million over six years, $10.7 million in FY24 for Northern Virginia Transportation Commission’s (NVTC) I-395/95 Commuter Choice program, which uses revenue from tolls to support efforts to reduce traffic congestion.

According to NVTC, the 13 projects that have been approved as part of the CTB six-year program include:

• Arlington County | Metrobus 16M Service Enhancement: Skyline to Crystal City | $5,000,000
• DASH | Line 35 Service Enhancement: Van Dorn Street Station to the Pentagon (Continuation) | $7,290,000
• DASH | Line 36A/B Service Enhancement: Mark Center to Potomac Yard-VT Station (Continuation) | $3,774,000
• DASH | Line 35 Bus Fleet Capacity Expansion with Electric Buses: Van Dorn Street Station to the Pentagon | $3,452,000
• Fairfax Connector | Route 396: Backlick North Park and Ride to the Pentagon (Continuation) | $1,750,915
• Fairfax County | Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit Implementation: Fort Belvoir to Huntington Station | $10,000,000
• OmniRide | Route D-200 Service Enhancement: Dale City to Ballston (Continuation) | $304,626
• OmniRide | Prince William Metro Express Service Enhancement: Dale City to Franconia-Springfield Station (Continuation) | $671,678
• OmniRide | Route 1 Local Service Enhancement: Quantico to Woodbridge Station (Continuation) | $755,020
• OmniRide | Route 543: Staffordboro to Downtown Washington, D.C. (Continuation) | $1,025,441
• OmniRide | Route 942: Staffordboro to the Pentagon (Continuation) | $1,638,926
• Virginia Railway Express | Amtrak Step-Up Reinstatement on VRE Fredericksburg Line | $1,477,065
• Virginia Railway Express | Crystal City Station Expansion | $10,786,281

“We’re excited about this impactful set of projects and that so many Northern Virginians spoke up about them. The level of support for the projects demonstrates the importance of better transit to our region's quality of life,” said NVTC Chair Dalia Palchik.

One agency to benefit from the funds is the Alexandria Transit Company, which operates the DASH bus system and King Street Trolley service. DASH was allocated more than $14 million for three projects. The funds will support maintaining 10-minute or better peak service on DASH Lines 35 and 36A/B through FY25 and the purchase of two 60-foot articulated electric buses to support increased capacity on Line 35, which is the busiest single route on the DASH system.

“Our application was successful thanks in large part to the passionate support and advocacy of our riders and community, and we are immensely grateful for every phone call, email, social media interaction and survey response submitted in support of maintaining these frequent, reliable and vital transit services,” said Josh Baker, DASH’s CEO and general manager.