Transportation Projects In Route 1 Corridor In NVTA Long-Range Plan

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — Northern Virginia Transportation Authority adopted its long-range transportation plan on Thursday. The adoption was the final step in a two-year public engagement process to prioritize transportation funding in Northern Virginia.

The TransAction plan identifies 424 multimodal projects aimed at enhancing Northern Virginia's transportation infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the region.
The projects identified in the TransAction plan account for an estimated $75 billion in potential investments through 2045.

NVTA will use the TransAction plan to inform its decisions in implementing the Six Year Program for regional revenue funding.

View a full list of projects in NVTA's updated TransAction plan.

The following projects in and around the Richmond Highway/Route 1 corridor in Fairfax County are included in the TransAction plan NVTA adopted on Thursday:

1. Wilson Bridge High Capacity Transit: Construct high-capacity transit service along I-495/Capital Beltway from the Metrorail Blue Line at Franconia-Springfield via the Yellow Line in the City of Alexandria and Branch Avenue on the Green Line in Prince George's County, Maryland. Alternative transit could include light rail, bus rapid transit and enhanced bus service.
2. I-95/I-495 Managed Lanes from I-395 into Maryland via Woodrow Wilson Bridge: Construct and implement managed lanes, including HOV or HOT lanes on I-95/I-495 between I-395 near Springfield and a location east of I-295 near Indian Head Highway in Maryland.
3. Route 1 BRT: Implement Bus Rapid Transit service on Route 1 between Woodbridge and Huntington Metrorail Station, with additional branch service to Pentagon City Metrorail Station via Metroway alignment. Includes widening of portions of Route 1 between Route 235 (Mt. Vernon Highway) and I-495.
4. Construct Interchange at Fairfax County Parkway and Route 1: Construct interchange at Fairfax County Parkway and Route 1.
5. Construct Interchange at Route 1 and Telegraph Road: Construct interchange at Route 1 and Telegraph Road (Route 611).
6. South Fairfax County Feeder Bus Service: Improve service levels on bus routes serving Richmond Highway, Kingstowne, and Springfield.
7. Metrorail Blue and Yellow Line Bus Facility Improvements: Expand and improve bus bays, passenger facilities, and bus circulation and access paths at all Yellow and Blue Line stations and transit centers in the I-395/ Route 1 corridor.
8. Route 1 Widening: Route 235 North to Route 235 South: Widen Route 1 from four to six lanes from Route 235 North/Sherwood Hall Lane to Route 235 South.
9. Tysons Express Bus: Implement express bus service between Tysons and Huntington Metrorail Station, and between Tysons and Franconia Springfield Metrorail Station.
10. Fairfax County Parkway/Telegraph Interchange Modifications: Fairfax County Parkway/Telegraph interchange modifications.
11. Huntington Metro Station ADA Accessibility Improvements: Design and construction of ADA access route via the south entrance of Huntington Station as well as other ADA and pedestrian improvements that improve access to Huntington Station, including a new elevator, sidewalk extensions and enhanced signage.
12. Route 1 Alexandria to Woodbridge Multi-Use Trail: Create a low-stress bike-ped connection between the Washington Boulevard side path and Mount Vernon Trail. This may include protected bikeway.
13. South Van Dorn Street: West End Transitway to Route 1 via Huntley Meadows Park Bike/Ped Connections: Develop a connection between Route 1 and the West End Transitway through Huntley Meadows Park and along South Van Dorn Street.
14. Franconia Road: Huntington Station to Springfield High Capacity Transit: Implement high-capacity transit between Huntington Station and Springfield. Improvements may include transit priority treatments, increased frequency and span of service, any additional required vehicles, maintenance/storage facilities, improved customer information, expanded fare payment options, mobility hubs, and enhanced bus stops and access facilities.

For the first time, NVTA included a seamlessly connected Bus Rapid Transit system across the region in its long-range plan. Local BRT would fill the gaps between the region's existing transit systems, such as Metrorail and the Virginia Railway Express.

By 2045, the Northern Virginia region is expected to grow by 23 percent to 3.14 million, and employment is expected to grow by 33 percent to 1.94 million, according to a release. NVTA deemed investments in a multimodal transportation network to be an essential part of its final plan if it was to meet the needs of this projected expansion.

Patch editor Michael O'Connell contributed to this report.