No FY 2017 funding for Richmond Highway widening project

Southbound Richmond Highway narrows to two lanes after the intersection of Buckman Road and Mount Vernon Highway.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has released its final list of projects receiving funding in fiscal year 2017, and the widening of Richmond Highway between Hybla Valley and Woodlawn did not make the cut.

The NVTA list, announced today, includes 12 projects totaling $466 million. Fairfax County had requested $5 million for the Richmond Highway project, which will widen 2.9 miles of road between Mount Vernon Memorial Highway and Napper Road. The length of road will be the last four-lane stretch on Route 1 in Fairfax once the current widening project between Mount Vernon Memorial Highway and Telegraph Road is completed.

The NVTA’s rejection was not surprising, nor is it expected to set back the project in the long run. Fairfax’s proposal had ranked low in the NVTA’s initial scoring of the projects, which was released in early June. Citizens, politicians and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) had advocated for the Route 1 funding to get a higher priority during last month’s comment period, but were unable to sway the final picks.

State Sen. Scott Surovell (D-36), whose district includes much of the Route 1 corridor in Fairfax, said the rejection of the relatively small request (the total for the Richmond Highway widening project is $215 million) will not hurt the project because there is still some money set aside for planning and environmental studies. He said that the larger 2018 request will be more crucial.

Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee) also said the NVTA decision “will not delay the project whatever.” He said the county will need approximately $120 million to fund the phase of the project between 2018-2020, which will be dedicated to right-of-way acquisition. Once that phase is completed, construction will begin and is expected to run until completion in 2025.

“Supervisor [Dan] Storck and I have already begun working to ensure the project scores as high as possible to ensure funding is put in place,” McKay said in an email. “We’ll need much community input, as well, and we’ll be providing the means to do that in the near future.”

Both McKay and Surovell emphasized that the NVTA’s decision will not impact the Embark Richmond Highway plan to overhaul Route 1 between Huntington and Fort Belvoir.

“This does not affect Embark in any way,” Surovell said in an email. “The two biggest obstacles to implementing Embark are the lack of transportation outsourcing firms to process the volume of condemnation work necessary to complete the project and locating the $800 million to fund the project.”

McKay and Surovell each said the widening project has been among their constituents’ highest priorities. McKay said he believes the county has done its part and that “there is a tremendous amount of momentum up and down the highway.” He called on the state to pitch in more for transportation improvements in the corridor.

“We’ve seen and heard a lot about dollars from Richmond going to fund many projects throughout the region, but now it’s our turn, ” McKay said. “The County has invested in the Route One Corridor for many years … but this project is simply too big to complete (and fund) alone. It’s time that the state join us in our efforts and begin investing in our community.”

Surovell said he’s heard from many constituents who are “desperate to see Route 1 improved” but feel that the corridor still isn’t given the priority it deserves in Fairfax.

“I consistently receive communications from constituents who was disappointed with the lack of progress on Route 1 who feel like the rest of Fairfax County receives more attention and investment than the Route 1 Corridor,” Surovell said. “My constituents who live in Fairfax County feel this project should be prioritized over I-66, Route 7, or other transportation projects in Northern Virginia.”