Transportation

The GRCC worked with other business groups to lobby for sustainable sources of transportation funding for the state and Northern Virginia. The Virginia General Assembly and Governor Tim Kaine worked to approve a transportation funding bill, whose funding mechanisms have already been approved by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. While the increased funding that will be provided is important, GRCC recognizes that Northern Virginia will still fall significantly short of funds needed to implement the 2030 Transportation Plan and supports efforts to secure additional state funding.  The Chamber applauds the continued reforms within the Virginia Department of Transportation, but such reform is no substitute for new funding required to address the growing backlog of unfunded priorities. The Chamber also supports development of a performance-based statewide transportation plan focused on existing and new corridors of statewide and regional significance to better direct transportation allocations.

Draft released for Northern Virginia Transportation Projects
VDOT and DRPT have recently released their six year highway, rail and public transportation improvement program candidates for our Northern Virginia area.  This plan is still in draft form, but it will give you an idea as to what projects are being considered.  Click here to view the map and descriptive page.

The Virginia Secretary of Transportation Releases Annual Report
Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer has submitted his annual report of accomplishments for 2007 and plans for 2008.  While this covers the entire Commonwealth, the capital budget shown on page 10 highlights major projects contemplated for the next three state budget years. Click here to view the report.

Funding:

In addition to State funding GRCC supports  the use of creative transportation financing mechanisms, including the potential for new tolls on roads currently not tolled, public/private partnerships, the use of debt financing, provided that it does not threaten Virginia’s AAA bond rating, and use of High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. At the state level, GRCC supports revisions to the transportation funding formula so that it better addresses the needs of heavily congested regions in the Commonwealth, such as northern Virginia. GRCC also supports legislation that would prohibit borrowing from the Transportation Trust Fund. GRCC contends that federal funding should be increased for transit and highway programs in the national capital area to improve mobility in this area in light of increased security concerns.

Projects:

With regard to specific projects and initiatives in northern Virginia, GRCC supports:
  • The extension of Metrorail through Tyson’s Corner to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County;
  • Approval and construction of the Techway and/or other additional Potomac River crossings;
  • Restoration of the Western Transportation Corridor (WTC) to Loudoun County’s Comprehensive Plan and completion of the WTC Draft Environmental Impact Study;
  • Expansion of I-66 inside the Beltway, with an emphasis on adding a third lane to and from Ballston and the Dulles Connector Road;
  • Completion of Route 28 Phase 3 and 4 to convert this facility into an 8-lane limited access freeway between I-66 and Route 7;
  • Completion of the Loudoun County and Tri-County Parkways on the master plan alignments;
  • Upgrading the Route 606 western loop around Dulles Airport;
  • Innovative business solutions that encourage telework and other cutting-edge virtual workplace initiatives, as well as government incentives to encourage greater use of telework and other transportation demand management measures;
  • Increasing the efficiency of the existing transportation system through expanded use of technology;
  • Consideration of equitable ways to raise revenue that are dedicated to transportation priorities in the localities where the revenues are raised, including an increase in the gas tax;
  • Increased use of special tax districts throughout the Commonwealth to help fund transportation projects; and
  • Reevaluation of on/off access of the Dulles Toll Road along the Reston corridor to address congestion for access to future metro stations.

With respect to local projects in the Reston area, the Chamber supports the inclusion of the following items in the Fairfax County Transportation Plan to allow for future funding:

  • Immediate Improvements For Congestion Relief (not listed in priority order):Expedited widening of Route 7 north of the Toll Road, to include a grade-separated interchange at Route 7 and Baron Cameron Avenue;
  • Realignment of Sunset Hills Road to meet Crowell Road;
  • Widen Reston Parkway to six lanes between the Toll Road and Lawyers Road;
  • Construction of improvements at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Sunrise Valley Drive;
  • Expand the Hunter Mill and Springvale Road bridges.

Future Capacity Improvements (not listed in priority order):

  • Reconstruct Wiehle Avenue between Sunset Hills Road and Baron Cameron Avenue to modify grades and turning radii to increase driver safety;
  • Widen Sunset Hills Road between Reston Parkway and Wiehle Avenue into a four-lane divided road with limited turn movements;
  • Widen Hunter Mill Road to four lanes from Baron Cameron Avenue to Lawyers Road with appropriate turn lanes where needed;
  • Construction of a diamond or cloverleaf interchange at Fairfax County Parkway and Sunset Hills Road; and
  • Construction of a grade-separated interchange at Sunrise Valley Drive and the Fairfax County Parkway.

Click here to learn more about the planned Metro extension
Glenn F. Tilton Remarks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Aviation’s New Flight Plan: Innovation, Adaptation and Consolidation, speak directly to the challenge facing our industry. It comes at a critical time for our industry and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is certainly well suited to address this subject. As you know, our air transport industry is in a mess.  The Washington-Baltimore area’s largest provider is United Airlines.  Glenn Tilton, United’s Chairman and CEO, has just given a refreshingly frank statement to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce meeting. Click here to read Tilton's remarks.
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