Last week, the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the six-year improvement program for the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, which will allocate $28.5 billion to transportation projects over the next six fiscal years beginning July 1.
The money will flow to more than 4,300 transportation infrastructure projects across the state including roads, bridges, rail, transit, bicycle and pedestrian paths.
Public transportation, which includes Virginia's share for the Metropolitan Area Transit Authority compact and the Virginia Railway Express is slated to receive $930 million.
The breakdown for the DRPT portion includes $37.7 million for freight rail and $181.1 million for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.
Bridges maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation and local municipalities are set to receive $500 million.
According to VDOT, "Smaller portions of the budget are directed to address the needs and requirements of debt service, support to other agencies, tolls, administration and other programs."
Also last week, Governor Abigail Spanberger cut the ribbon on the completion of the $450 million Norfolk Harbor dredging project at The Port of Virginia. The project was started during the previous administration.
"The Port is now home to the deepest commercial shipping channel on the entire East Coast of the United States," said Spanberger.
"Because of this investment, the largest cargo ships in the Atlantic trade — and the next generation coming behind them — can now safely transit Norfolk Harbor with a full load."
The state is still working on a $3.9 billion expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel expansion that will add four, tolled express lanes in each direction. The project is expected to be finished in 2027.
Express lanes in the northern end of the state were built as a P3 and generate about $580 million a year in revenue.
Virginia continues to advocate for a P3-supported rebuild and expansion of the American Legion Bridge that connects Fairfax County with Montgomery County, Maryland.
The project was studied on the Maryland side in 2019 and temporarily shelved, but may be coming back to life with
Richmond native Nick Donahue heads up Virginia's DOT after being appointed by Gov. Spanberger last December.
At the time she said his "range of experience will ensure Virginia tackles our transit challenges, improves the reliability of our networks, and prepares for new opportunities ahead."
"Transportation is ultimately about opportunity, connecting people to jobs, education, and the communities they call home," said Donohue.
"I am committed to ensuring every investment we make strengthens those connections."
Determining the level of federal support that will eventually filter down to state DOTs remains a work in progress as surface transportation reauthorization starts and stops in Congress.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has already unveiled their
