Prince William County officials recommend against Centerville Road widening project funding

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) held a meeting on June 23, 2022, to discuss various transportation projects and their funding status. A key focus of the meeting was the evaluation of projects based on their congestion reduction relative to cost.

The first project discussed was the Old Centerville Road widening project in Prince William County. Although it was identified as a high-performing project, the NVTA recommended against funding it. The primary reason for this decision was the lack of sufficient coordination between Prince William and Fairfax Counties. While both counties are aware of the project and have communicated about it, the NVTA felt that the level of collaboration was not adequate for moving forward. Additionally, the project overlaps with another funded project, which raised concerns about its necessity and effectiveness.

The NVTA highlighted that the Old Centerville Road project, with a funding request of $96 million, still ranked among the top ten projects despite these concerns. However, the uncertainty surrounding its coordination and overlapping functionalities led to the recommendation not to allocate funding.

The meeting also addressed two other projects included in the 2019 county bond referendum. Although these projects do not have fully committed funding, they are considered closer to being funded compared to others. The NVTA noted that this situation raises issues of supplanting, which could affect funding decisions.

Overall, the discussions underscored the importance of inter-county coordination and the need for clear funding commitments in advancing transportation projects in the region. The NVTA's recommendations will guide future funding decisions as they aim to effectively reduce congestion and improve transportation infrastructure.