Public comment wanted by Sept. 6 on N. Va. long-range transportation plan

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is seeking public input on Northern Virginia’s long-range transportation plan, TransAction. Plan goals are to enhance mobility, increase accessibility and improve resiliency by planning for an equitable, sustainable and safe multimodal transportation network.

The draft TransAction Plan, which is updated every five years, addresses regional transportation needs through 2045. According to a news release, by that year the population in Northern Virginia is projected to grow by 23 percent and employment is expected to increase by 33percent.

The TransAction Plan, comprised of 429 candidate transportation projects totaling more than $75 billion, identifies potential investments to meet the growing needs for travel throughout the region, expanding beyond Northern Virginia.

Now is the public’s opportunity to provide NVTA with feedback on the region’s transportation future. Proposed projects include a regional Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, a range of technologies including progress towards vehicle electrification, and programs to encourage alternative modes of transportation,.

TransAction recognizes Northern Virginians and others in the region regularly travel across jurisdictional boundaries to reach their destinations, including southern parts of Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Feedback from the public who travel in the region is an important part of the TransAction update process, the news release stated.

The TransAction Public Comment Period opened yesterday, Aug. 1. It will conclude at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept.18, 2022.

During this time, NVTA will host a TransAction Public Hearing on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET, just prior to the Authority’s regularly scheduled business meeting.

The draft TransAction Plan document summarizing travel conditions, challenges and opportunities through 2045, and a draft TransAction Project List, are available for public comment at nvtatransaction.org/participate. To view materials in person, contact NVTA at 703-642-4652 to set up an appointment with NVTA staff. The TransAction draft plan and online comment form are available in English, Spanish and Korean.

There are four ways for the public to provide one comment submission per person:
• Online form: nvtatransaction.org/participate
• Voicemail: 571-354-0065
• Mail: Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, 3040 Williams Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22031
• Public Hearing: Remote via Zoom, or NVTA’s Offices, 3040 Williams Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22031, on Sept. 8, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET

*When providing comment, the public is asked to provide first and last name, email address, zip code and feedback on the TransAction Plan. If also commenting on the project list, please provide the project ID and/or project name.

During the TransAction Public Hearing, remote and in-person comments will be accepted. Due to pandemic concerns, it is strongly encouraged for testimony to be provided remotely or comments submitted in advance via the online comment form, available at nvtatransaction.org/participate.

To provide live testimony during the Public Hearing on Sept. 8, pre-sign up is required:

• Registration form: Fill out this forms.gle/sgp33RyRcGtTxFRn7. – Pre-Registration Deadline: Sept. 6, 2022 at 5 p.m. ET
• Phone: 703-642-4652 – Pre-Registration Deadline: Sept. 6, 2022 at 5 p.m. ET
• In-person Walk-Ins: NVTA’s Offices on Sept. 8, 2022, Sign-in from 6:30-7 p.m. ET: 3040 Williams Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22031
*Advanced registration by Sept. 6 preferred

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The NVTA was created by the General Assembly on July 1, 2002, to offer a common voice for Northern Virginia on transportation issues confronting the region. The Authority is made up of nine jurisdictions: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties; Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park cities. The Authority is responsible for updating Northern Virginia’s long-range transportation plan, TransAction, and since 2014 manages approximately $365 million annually in public funds for transportation projects designed to provide congestion relief throughout Northern Virginia. For more information go to thenovaauthority.org.