Officials urge residents to turn out for hearings on Route 1, BRT project funding

(Fairfax County image)

Public officials are urging Richmond Highway-area residents to attend upcoming community meetings about Northern Virginia road-funding, including a meeting Wednesday at the Mount Vernon Government Center.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is currently in the process of selecting which projects will get funding as part of its six-year program, and is asking for community input. Two huge Richmond Highway area projects — the widening of Route 1 between Jeff Todd Way and Napper Road, and the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project — are among 60 that the NVTA is evaluating.

The two Richmond Highway-area project were ranked first and second, respectively, on Fairfax County’s wish list to the NVTA. But while the projects are better positioned than ever, the NVTA took a budget hit from the state this year, with funding for a Metro maintenance bill taking money from the NVTA’s budget. The NVTA says that it will have $276 million less to work with for the six-year program, and $395 million less overall.

The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) and local politicians cited the NVTA’s smaller pot of cash as all the more reason for residents to advocate for the Route 1 projects at this week’s meeting.

“Recent legislation moves funds from the NVTA to help meet Metro’s funding request,” the SFDC said in a letter to residents. “Richmond Highway funding is threatened as a result, despite finally moving to the top of the NVTA funding list after years of waiting.”

State Sen. Scott Surovell also cited the tighter budget in letter to constituents last week, saying that advocating for funding was crucial.

“In the next month, the Northern Virginia Transit Authority will decide where to spend over $1 billion of your tax dollars over the next six year,” said Surovell, whose 36th district covers a large part of the Richmond Highway area. “U.S. 1 improvements have been on hold too long and need funding now.”

Fairfax’s ask for the Route 1 widening is $127 million — a sizable chunk of the $215 million project, which has only $44 million in funding so far. The most expensive phase of the project — right-of-way acquisition — is set to get underway in spring 2019.

The more-expensive BRT project ($524 million) will rely heavily on federal funding, but still needs funding to begin its early phases. Fairfax has requested $250 million from the NVTA for this funding cycle.

The NVTA will make its final decisions in June. In the meantime, a public comment period began on April 13 and lasts until May 20. It will include meetings in multiple Northern Virginia jurisdictions that vie for the NVTA’s money.

“Resident feedback is an important part of the NVTA funding process and will help us with our efforts to secure these ever-important dollars,” Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay said in a letter to constituents.

Wednesday’s meeting at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center (see map) starts at 7 p.m.

The NVTA’s open house and public hearing at the Fairfax County Government Center (see map) will be on Thursday. It will start with an open house at 5:30 p.m., and then the public hearing will begin after a 7 p.m. presentation.

Comments can also be left on the NVTA website, or can be emailed to [email protected].