Wednesday May 9: Richmond Highway Widening Funding Public Meeting

Note to readers: Recommended talking points and suggestions for commentary can be found at the end of this email.

Fairfax County and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) will hold two public meetings to present and seek public input on the NVTA’s  60 candidate projects for their FY18-FY23 six year plan. Two critical Richmond Highway Projects occupy the top two candidate slots for Fairfax County:

  • The Richmond Highway widening (Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway to Napper Road) (link)
  • Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit Phases 1 & 2 (link)

However, funding for these projects is not guaranteed. Recent legislation moves funds from the NVTA to help meet Metro’s funding request. Richmond Highway funding is threatened as a result, despite finally moving to the top of the NVTA funding list after years of waiting.

Please attend the public meeting this Wednesday, May 9, 7:00pm, at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306. 

There will be another public meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 17, 7:00pm at the Fairfax County Government Center, Rooms 9/10, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22030

It is absolutely critical that you come and make your voice be heard! With so much happening along the corridor, it is imperative that we prevent any unnecessary set backs. 

If you are unable to attend the the meetings but would like to submit your feedback:
  • Make a public comment at the NVTA Open House and Public Hearing on Thur., May 10, 2018, NVTA offices, 3040 Williams Avenue, Suite 200, Fairfax. Open House will start at 5:30 p.m. and the Public Hearing will commence immediately following a 7 p.m. presentation.

Recommended Talking Points: 

  • Recent legislation unfortunately moved funds from the NVTA to help meet Metro’s funding request. I hope you will continue to prioritize Richmond Highway funding.  Route 1 is vital to the region’s growth and present congestion detracts from both quality of life and economic development.  I will not be able to attend the public meeting on Wednesday, May 9, nor the one on Thursday, May 17, but my absence does not mean that funding Route 1 development is not a priority for me and my family and for my friends and neighbors. Thank you.
  • After years of waiting, the Richmond Highway widening and bus rapid transit projects are finally at the top of the NVTA’s project list for Fairfax County. I hope you will continue to prioritize funding for these long-overdue projects. The economic growth of southeast Fairfax County has resulted in upticks in density without the accompanying and necessary transportation improvements. Commerce and quality of life suffer as a result.
  • Route 1 services travelers from many jurisdictions and connects Fairfax County to both Prince William County and the City of Alexandria, and is an important link to regional assets and jobs centers such as National Harbor. The combination of local and regional use creates traffic conflicts on a substandard roadway. Let’s widen the road and install more effective public transit.
  • Funding the Richmond Highway widening and BRT is critical to our region’s growth and economic success.
  • Widening Richmond Highway from Napper Road to Jeff Todd Way is long overdue. That stretch of roadway is dangerous and congested.
  • The intersection of Richmond Highway and Fordson Road is a bottleneck and one of the most congested points on the corridor.
  • Route 1 is a critical transportation corridor, with substantial national security and regional economic implications.
  • Traffic congestion on Richmond Highway detracts from our quality of life.
Back to The Highway Blog