Fairfax County's Transportation Wish List

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has submitted a list of nearly $220 million in potential projects it hopes to fund through Gov. Bob McDonnell’s historic transportation bill, which he ceremonially signed earlier this week.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) will make its preliminary recommendations next week for regional projects that should receive dollars generated by McDonnell’s HB 2313, so the Board approved a list of regional road and transit projects it hopes the NVTA will include. (See the full list below.)

Officials are crossing their fingers for $79 million in road projects and $140 million in transit projects. Tom Biesiadny, director of the county’s department of transportation, said NVTA would likely get about $200 million from the transportation bill but has already received $500 million in requests, so it’s not likely that officials will get funding for everything they want.

Board Chairman Sharon Bulova said NVTA would have to do a “whittling down” of a massive list that includes wish lists from other localities’ — such as Loudoun — as well.

The projects must meet specific criteria set by the NVTA. Among them: congestion relief and the connection of regional activity centers.

Supervisor Michael Frey (R-Sully) was upset supervisors weren’t consulted earlier on the list and hadn’t been able to work through it more.

“We probably should have had substantial discussion prior to bringing it to the Board,” he said.

But Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee) said the list wasn’t supposed to collect everybody’s personal preferences.

“This is an attempt to take projects that meet the criteria and put them on a list,” he said.

Supervisors also authorized the FCDOT to apply for grant funding that could get $20 million to help build the Innovation Center Metro Station.

Road Projects

• Route 28 widening – Northbound from McLearen Road to the Dulles Toal Road and Southbound from the Dulles Road to Route 50; $31.1 million
• Route 29 widening – Fairfax City to Legato Road; $7.5 million
• Braddock Road HOV widening – Burke Lake Road to I-495; $10 million
• Route 28 widening – Prince William County line to Route 29; $10 million
• Franconia/South Van Dorn Interchange improvements; $20 million

Transit Projects

• West Ox Silver Line Phase II Bus Facility; $17 million
• Innovation Center Metrorail Station Parking Garage; $10 million
• Herndon Metrorail Station Parking Garage; $10 million
• Innovation Center Metrorail Station; $89.9 million
• Fairfax County Parkway Bus Service – 12 buses for for trips from Herndon to Fort Belvoir; $6 million
• Lorton Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Second Platform Extension; $7.9 million

What projects do you think are in need of more funds? Tell us in the comments.