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More than $100 million set for Va. transportation projects
Richmond -
Northern Virginia will get $102 million in road upgrades, mass-transit improvements, and bicycle and pedestrian projects under a proposal released Monday by the authority charged with raising and spending new transportation funding for the region. The work will be paid for by revenue from taxes and higher fees authorized in the transportation-funding package legislators and Gov. Tim Kaine approved in April. Monday’s list includes several high-dollar items, such as $29 million to improve the Fairfax County Parkway/Fair Lakes Parkway/Monument Drive interchange and $14.9 million to add two lanes to the Prince William County Parkway between Hoadly Road and Old Bridge Road. Among the lower-priced projects are a $6.1 million allocation to improve signs at Virginia Metrorail stations and $246,000 to replace sidewalks in Falls Church. Northern Virginia Transportation Authority members selected projects that have already gone through the state and local approval process and just need funding to move forward. The authority will hold a July 12 public hearing on the proposed list. “We wanted to demonstrate that we are taking action as quickly as possible,” said Prince William County Supervisor Martin Nohe, an authority member. “We are hearing from the public that they are tired of their elected officials talking about transportation. They want to see asphalt on the road and see the trains rolling. We are going to show them results.” The authority will also meet July 12 to consider a series of tax and fee increases to fund the work. Taxes would be levied on vehicle repairs (5 percent), rental cars (2 percent), hotel and motel rooms (2 percent), first-time vehicle registrations (1 percent) and property sales (40 cents per $100 of assessed value). The authority also will consider adding $10 to the cost of vehicle safety inspections and vehicle registrations. Construction could begin on the projects as soon as next spring once the authority receives the necessary legal clearance to conduct a bond sale. By November, the authority plans to develop a six-year project list, including more ambitious endeavors than those announced Monday. Highlights of the $102M in projects proposed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority: » $29 million: Improvements to the Fairfax County/Fair Lakes Parkway/Monument Drive interchange » $14.9 million: Widen Prince William Parkway from Hoadly Road to Old Bridge Road » $11.5 million: Improvements to mass transit services in Arlington and Alexandria » $10 million: Richmond Highway Transportation Initiative » $6.1 million: Upgrade signs at 20 Virginia Metrorail stations » $5 million: Complete the Battlefield Parkway in Loudoun County » $3.75 million: Locomotives for the Virginia Railway Express » $3.5 million: Upgrades for the passenger platforms at the Vienna and West Falls Church Metrorail stations » $350,000: Improvements on Manassas Drive in Manassas Park jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com |