No. Va. Transpo Commission (NVTC) marking 50 years of “thinking outside the car”

Between the opening of the Capital Beltway in 1964 to the ribbon cutting for the Silver Line in 2014, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) has played an integral role in helping the region’s transportation network grow and evolve, according to a news release. Milestones along the way have included

• NVTC helped create and fund WMATA; Virginia now has 52.47 miles and 25 stations

• NVTC created and funds VRE. VRE serves 19,000 passengers daily, operates 30 trains, 111 railcars, 16 stations in Virginia (18 overall) and 90 miles of track
• 156 Million transit trips – that’s 76% of all transit trips in the Commonwealth – are taken in Northern Virginia

According to a recent article in The Atlantic City Lab, the hidden economic value of transit could be worth anywhere from $1.5 million to $1.8 billion annually.

Over the past 50 years, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) helped create Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and state of the art transit systems that are critical to Northern Virginia’s economic vitality.
• 54% of jobs in the Metro area are within ½ mile of a Metro Station

• 550,000 transit trips are work commutes each week day

• Businesses are focused on transit stations as hubs of economic activity: Rosslyn Ballston Corridor, new VRE Stations, future expansion of transit at Potomac Yards, and the Silver Line stops.

NVTC) will celebrate 50 years of Transit Innovation at George Mason University’s Founders Hall on Sept. 4. The celebration will include special tributes to retiring U.S. Representatives James P. Moran (D-8th) and Frank Wolf (R-10th) for their support of the region’s transit systems. Rep. Moran served on the commission from 1985-1990 and as its Chairman in 1988 and 1990.

Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne will join members of Congress, current and past commissioners, members of the Virginia General Assembly and transportation leaders from across the region to celebrate NVTC’s accomplishments in bringing the region together to build and expand Northern Virginia’s transit network.

Go to the 50th anniversary page at http://www.thinkoutsidethecar.org to see a one-of-a-kind 50-year graphic timeline highlighting the progress and accomplishments of NVTC and transit in the region.