Transportation was the topic of the night at the Region 8 Meeting on June 22. The event was held at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building.
“Traffic congestion represents the most serious challenge to counties in Northern Virginia,” said Loudoun County Chair Phyllis Randall, who moderated the conversation.
Nick Donohue, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Transportation, was the guest speaker and spoke about the recent approval of the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s (CTB) first 6 Year Improvement Plan under HB 2 (Stolle).
The CTB approved $1.7 billion in transportation projects throughout Virginia on June 14. Donohue said under the old program, more projects might have been approved but only with partial funding. This meant too many projects were simply left to lapse without being completed. Donohue added that every project in the new 6 Year Improvement Plan is fully funded.
CTB received 287 project requests last fall and fully funded 163 projects. Under the process established through HB 2 the “most pressing needs” were addressed first.
Donohue said 19 large and small projects were approved for Northern Virginia. I-66, inside the beltway, was among the approved projects. This marks the first time in 30 years problems with I-66 inside the beltway are being addressed.
Delegate Randy Minchew, Delegate Dave LaRock and Delegate Jennifer Boysko attended and spoke at the event. VACo thanks them for their participation. The conversation between regional leaders and the legislators made the meeting productive and informative.
VACo will visit Henrico County on July 14 for the Region 3 Meeting.
VACo Contact: Dean Lynch, CAE