Transportation In Northern Virginia

Dinner & Discussion

Providence District Democratic Committee &

Fairfax County Democratic Committee Finance Committee

April 16, 2014

Whitaker Associates

Stuart M Whitaker

Outline

I. (My) Goals

II.Regional Framework: Transportation Planning Board (TPB)

III.Virginia

I. Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA)

II. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

www.Whitaker.com

I. Let’s Start With Goals

•Avoid climate disasters

•Transport is 2nd largest source of GHG

•Efficiency plus behavioral change

•Increase Energy Security

•94% of transportation energy is from oil

•72% of oil is used for transportation

•Ensure Balanced Economic Growth

•Transit is essential for everyone

•Consider intergenerational issues

•Foster individual independence

•48% of non-elderly poor in DC w/o auto

•7.8% of US residents w/o auto

•Foster health and communities

•20 minutes moderate-intensity aerobics daily = 1 mile walk (CDC)

•Better neighborhoods – Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

•Protect life and limb

•In 2010: 33,687 unintentional motor vehicle deaths (vs 11,078 firearm homicides) (CDC) http://tinyurl.com/bwj9crl

•Other Goals?

II. Transportation Planning Board (TPB): Our MPO

•1962 Mandate

•TPB Goals:

•Range of options

•Strong economy

•Maintenance

•Effectiveness

•Environment

•Inter-region & Intl

TPB Plans

•Regional Transportation Priorities Plan (RTPP)

•Activity Centers

•Constrained Long Range Plan (CLRP) & TIP

•All projects ~750

III. Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA)

•4 counties, five cities, towns, others

•Balanced decisions

•First new funding in quarter century

•Good and bad

•Finally!

•Yet … regressive sales taxes

NVTA Issues

•NVTA’s authority

•Pay as you go (PAYGO) versus Debt

•Project Selection

PAYGO?

Or Debt?

$209 M Projects Selected

•Bonds: $93 M

•PAYGO:

•Roads: $68 M

•Transit: $47 M

•Total: $116

•Largest projects:

•$41 M Innovation Center Metrorail Station

•$28 M Prince William Rte 28

VDOT “Evaluating Significant Projects”

•Muddling toward objective measures?

•Legislation: rate “all significant transportation projects”

•NVTA Chairman: projects that reduce congestion and emergency evacuation

•VDOT: reduced congestion and emergency capacity, NOT transit, NOT current projects

VDOT Candidate Projects

Did I meet your goals?

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