NVTA committee backs staff’s FY2026–31 six-year program recommendations after debate over Arlington transfer request

The Planning and Programming Committee of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority recommended that the Authority adopt staff’s FY2026–2031 six-year program funding recommendations after a lengthy presentation and discussion on June 18, 2026. Chair Jefferson moved the committee recommendation and Mayor Reid seconded; the motion passed following discussion and at least one abstention.

Staff presenter Sri told the committee that jurisdictions submitted roughly $1.25 billion in requests while projected revenue for the round is about $775 million, and that staff is recommending funding for 21 of 27 candidate projects (18 fully, three partially). "There are 27 candidate projects. Staff is recommending 21 of them to be funded," Sri said, and explained that staff used legally required quantitative measures (CRC and transaction ratings) along with qualitative considerations and public comments to form recommendations.

Sri said the regional revenue fund has grown over recent cycles and that total NVTA investment for FY24–31 will be about $4.5 billion, roughly $250 million per year on average. The recommended portfolio emphasizes multimodal balance: nine bike/ped projects, five roadway projects, three transit projects and continuation of BRT investments.

Three projects were recommended only for partial funding: the Fairfax Richmond Highway BRT, Arlington’s South George Mason Drive multimodal improvements, and Loudoun County’s Colonial Highway pedestrian-safety improvements. Sri said partial awards reflect multiple factors — the presence of external funding, lower transaction ratings or a judgment that partial funding would advance preliminary engineering without duplicating other revenue sources.

The committee discussed a formal request from Arlington to transfer $8.5 million from project Arlington-026 to Arlington-027. An Arlington representative argued the two applications are parts of the same corridor, that coordinated preliminary engineering would be more efficient and that shifting funds within Arlington would not reduce other jurisdictions’ allocations. "I live very, very close to South George Mason Drive… this is one piece in effect," the Arlington representative said, urging flexibility to support a complex intersection and adjacent affordable-housing residents.

Other members voiced concern about precedent and process. Committee members and staff noted that the Congestion Reduction Capacity (CRC) ranking and the transaction-rating requirements are legally required priorities and that moving money from a higher-ranked project to a lower-ranked one requires clear justification and documentation. Sri summarized PCAC and TAC deliberations, saying both bodies reviewed the transfer request and declined to support it to "protect the integrity of the process and professional work conducted by the staff." Mr. Snider praised staff work on the program update, calling it "an incredible amount of great work."

Staff and members also discussed Policy 30 and outyear funding implications: much of the recommended funding is for fiscal years 2030–31, and staff emphasized that fully funded projects should not expect additional Authority action to fill shortfalls. Staff repeatedly said any departure from CRC order must be justified with the quantitative and qualitative record in the briefing materials.

After debate, Chair Jefferson moved and Mayor Reid seconded that the committee recommend Authority adoption of the staff’s FY2026–31 funding recommendations for FY2030–31. The committee voted to forward the recommendation to the Authority; the Authority will consider final adoption at its July 9 meeting.

The committee will now prepare materials for the July 9 Authority meeting where members will take the final vote on the six-year program.