Northern Virginia Grabs $400 Million in Infrastructure Dollars

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks “This year’s spending package makes a significant investment in transportation infrastructure in Northern Virginia and nationwide,” said Rep. Jim Moran (D-8). “And as we rebuild our aging roads and highways, we’ll be rebuilding the economy as well, with transit and highway construction estimated to create 1.5 million jobs.”

Washington D.C. - The House of Representatives has passed the conference report on the 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act which includes funding for transportation and infrastructure projects affecting Northern Virginia totaling over $400 million.  

“This year’s spending package makes a significant investment in transportation infrastructure in Northern Virginia and nationwide,” said Rep. Jim Moran (D-8). “And as we rebuild our aging roads and highways, we’ll be rebuilding the economy as well, with transit and highway construction estimated to create 1.5 million jobs.”

Projects impacting Northern Virginia include:  

Dulles Rail Metrorail Extension— $85 million to begin Phase I construction of the 23.1 mile extension of the Metrorail system from East Falls Church Metro Station to Wiehle Avenue including the construction of five new stations.   Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority - $150 million, the  full authorized amount under Title IV of Public Law 110-432, to undertake needed capital improvements on the rail system and purchase new, safer rail cars.  WMATA serves the federal workforce (50 percent of the stations are at federal facilities, 40 percent of the ridership are federal employees) and visitors to the nation’s capital.  

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Capital Maintenance Project—$150 million to finance urgently needed major capital improvements to the nation’s public transportation system as authorized under Title IV of Public Law 110-432.  Created in 1967, WMATA serves the federal workforce, 50 percent of the stations are at federal facilities, 40 percent of the ridership are federal employees, visitors to the nation’s capital and provides major transportation services during inaugural and special events, parades and emergency evacuation contingencies.  

Potomac Yard High Capacity Transit—$1 million to purchase buses to operate on dedicated right-of-way providing service along the Route 1 Corridor (Jefferson Davis Highway) between Pentagon City, Arlington and the Braddock Road Metrorail Station in Alexandria.

I-95/Fairfax County Parkway Interchange—$974,000 to reconstruct a grade-separated interchange of I-95 and the Fairfax County Parkway at Newington Road.  The current interchange is capable of carrying the volume of traffic to support the influx of 19,000 military personnel and additional civilians are expected access Fort Belvoir as a result of BRAC consolidations.  

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B)—$200 million to improve the National Airspace System to accommodate anticipated growth in commercial air traffic, both passenger and freight.  ADS-B offers substantial safety and environmental improvements by reducing fuel requirements and by providing more precise position location to aircraft on the ground and in the air.

Enhanced Transit Service, Route 7 Corridor—$350,000 to conduct a study on the feasibility of enhanced transit service along the Route 7 Corridor connecting the King Street Metro Station in Alexandria with the future Columbia Pike light rail service that terminates at Skyline in Fairfax County with the planned multimodal center in Falls Church with the future Metrorail Stations in Tysons Corner.

Richmond Express (REX) Transit Service Centers—$500,000 for Fairfax County for the enhancement of transit service along the Route 1- Richmond Highway corridor, including the construction of several transit centers and user-friendly bus stops, as well as access and safety improvements.  Since it was first established in 2004, ridership on the REX buses has exceeded projections almost every year.  Future demand is expected to continue to grow as Fort Belvoir BRAC-related facilities and private contractor support operations open throughout the Richmond Highway corridor.

Four Mile Run Pedestrian Bridge—$250,000 to complete a pedestrian bridge across Four Mile Run connecting two communities separated for decades by a flood control project and transforming the region into a focal point for recreational and qualify of life activities.

The omnibus is comprised of six different appropriations bills for fiscal year 2010: Transportation-Housing and Urban Development; Labor-Health and Human Services-Education; Commerce-Justice-Science; Military Construction-Veterans Affairs; Financial Services; and State-Foreign Operations. Combined, the package represents $446.8 billion in discretionary budget authority.