Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has posted the Working Draft Fiscal Years 2011-2016 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) for public review in advance of four public hearings to solicit public comments about essential rail, transit, transportation demand management, bicycle, pedestrian and highway projects. The SYIP is now available at www.VirginiaDOT.org and www.drpt.virginia.gov for review.
The $7.7 billion Working Draft SYIP proposes $5.6 billion for highway construction and $2.1 billion for rail and public transportation, focusing on four main principles:
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Funding deficits on projects under way;
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Maximizing the use of federal funds;
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Funding projects already under way and those with new phases starting in fiscal year 2011; and
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Funding deficient bridges and pavements.
The SYIP also programs $103 million in federal funding held in reserve in the previously adopted program due to uncertainty in transportation funding at the federal level. Releasing this reserve:
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Provides partial funding for three stimulus contingency projects:
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— I-66 paving in the Northern Virginia District;
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— I-581 improvements at Elm Avenue in the Salem District; and
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— Route 50 Courthouse Road improvements in the Northern Virginia District;
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Partially funds VDOT project development costs on the Midtown Tunnel public-private partnership project in Hampton Roads;
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Provides funding for the Route 164 Median Rail project in Hampton Roads administered by the Virginia Port Authority; and
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Provides special program funding (enhancement program, congestion mitigation and air quality funding and regional surface transportation program projects).
Rail and public transportation funding in the SYIP is similar to levels in the revised Fiscal Years 2010-2015 SYIP. However, these levels represent a 10% decrease from the SYIP adopted by the CTB in June 2009. The state match for eligible capital expenses is 56%, and 36% for operating expenses, the lowest in Virginia history.
Public transportation investments focus on key priorities such as the state of good repair, capacity expansion, and security and technology enhancements. Rail investments focus on priorities outlined in the Rail Resource Allocation Plan and advancement of passenger rail demonstration projects in the I-95, I-81 and Rte. 460 corridors.
Detailed briefing presentations for highway, rail and public transportation changes in the Working Draft SYIP are available on www.ctb.virginia.gov.
The CTB will host four public meetings to solicit input on the proposed plan before it is adopted in June.
