Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of Governor Bob McDonnell

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2010
 
 
Office of the Governor
Contact: Jeff Caldwell
Phone: 804-225-4260
Email: [email protected]

Virginia Department of Transportation
Contact: Joe Vagi
Phone: 804.371.8304
Email: [email protected]  
 
  

Governor McDonnell Announces More Than 900 Projects Funded by Transportation Legislation to be Included in Draft Six-Year Improvement Program
Additional Funding Will Advance Critical Road, Rail, and Transit Projects and Create Much-Needed Jobs Throughout the Commonwealth
As a Result of Legislation, For the First Time in Years the Six-Year Program will Include Additional Funding and Projects

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today the completion of the Draft Fiscal Years 2012 – 2017 Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP). This SYIP update includes more than 900 projects recommended for funding through the governor’s historic transportation legislation adopted by the 2011 General Assembly and signed into law earlier this week. The draft SYIP will be presented to the public during a series of hearings in April and May and is available online beginning today.
 
“Over the last several years, the Commonwealth Transportation Board has cut more than $4 billion from its program,” Governor McDonnell said. “At the same time, our roads and bridges have continued to deteriorate and congestion and demand for alternative modes of transportation have continued to grow. Thanks to the bipartisan support of this year’s transportation package, we will make an upfront investment in restoring our transportation system and addressing these critical needs. This infusion of funds will help accelerate or complete the more than 900 projects I recommended as part of the package. These projects will benefit all regions of the Commonwealth, both rural and urban, and will help provide jobs for thousands of Virginians in desperate need of work without raising taxes.”
 
The governor’s transportation funding package included $1.8 billion in Capital Project Revenue (CPR) Bonds, $1.1 billion of Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) Bonds, and $283 million for the capitalization of the Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank funds (VTIB).   
 
The CPR Bonds will be issued over the next three years, with $600 million in Fiscal Years 2011-2013. The GARVEE Bonds will also be issued over three years as follows:
•           $623 million in FY 2012
•           $242 million in FY 2013
•           $242 million in FY 2014
 
These additional funds have been programmed in the SYIP to projects identified on the illustrative list provided in January. The draft SYIP consists of a construction program totaling $10.4 billion, with $8.1 billion for VDOT and $2.3 billion for the Department of Rail and Public Transportation. This SYIP not only funds major interstate, public-private, and mass transit projects, but for the first time in several years, it also addresses needs on the primary, secondary, and urban systems.  
 
As a result of the governor’s transportation package, more than $3 billion in additional funding has been provided in this year’s SYIP to accelerate and advance many phases of the projects included on the governor’s illustrative list. Examples of projects include:
 
•           Critical interstate projects, such as:
o          Widening I-66 from Gainsville to Haymarket and the Mark Center Ramp in the Northern Virginia District
o          Phase II of the Route 581 Valley View Interchange and the I-81 Exit 150 Connector Road in the Salem District
o          Widening I-64 from Route 288 to Route 623 in the Richmond District
o          Improving the I-64 Exit 91 Interchange and Bridge and modifying the I-81 Exit 310 Interchange in the Staunton District
 
•           Numerous projects on the primary system, such as:
o          The Route 1/123 Interchange, relocating and widening Route 7 and Belmont Ridge Road, and the Sycolin Road Overpass in the Northern Virginia District
o          Reconstructing Route 17 in the Fredericksburg District
o          Odd Fellows Road and Route 501 passing lanes in the Lynchburg District
o          Route 58 Corridor Development in the Bristol and Salem districts
o          Replacing the Route 360 Bridge and widening Route 10 in the Richmond District  
 
•           Much-needed and long-sought urban and secondary project phases, such as:
o          Replacing the Lesner Bridge, widening Lynnhaven Parkway, and improvements to Holland Road and Witch Duck Road in the Hampton Roads District
o          The Route 460 Southgate Avenue Intersection, improvements to the Route 779 Interchange and Bridge over Tinker Creek, and reconstruction of Route 687 in the Salem District
o          Bridge replacements on Route 759, 761 and 921 and Erickson Avenue in the Staunton District
o          Replacing the bridge on Route 670 in Washington County and improving Route 11 Lee Highway in the Bristol District
o          Widening Route 711 Huguenot Trail in the Richmond District
 
Approximately $1.4 billion has also been provided for major public-private transportation projects, including the Downtown Tunnel/Midtown Tunnel/Martin Luther King Freeway Extension, I-95 HOT Lanes, the Route 460 Corridor Improvement Project and the Coalfields Expressway.  This investment can potentially leverage an addition $4 billion in resources from the private sector.
 
Rail and transit projects throughout Virginia will also benefit from the increased funding provided this year. Examples of projects programmed in the SYIP include:
•           Improvements to Norfolk Southern infrastructure along the I-81 Crescent Corridor
•           Construction of the Kilby Support Yard
•           Replacing Virginia Railway Express railcars and extending the third track to Spotsylvania
•           Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority state of good repair purchases
•           Facility construction and improvements in Arlington, Blacksburg, Farmville, Loudoun, Lynchburg and Purcellville
•           Bus replacements for transit operators all throughout the Commonwealth
 
“There is no better time to start getting transportation in Virginia moving again,” said Sean T. Connaughton, secretary of transportation. “VDOT is seeing construction bids coming in significantly under estimates and interest rates are at near historic lows. Virginians all across the Commonwealth can expect to see construction on an unprecedented scale over the next three years.”
 
The Commonwealth Transportation Board is expected to adopt the final 2012-2017 Six-Year Improvement Program in June.  
 
Information on the public hearings to gather input on the program can be found at http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/statewide/2011/commonwealth_seeks_input_on51698.asp

To view the draft SYIP, visit http://syip.virginiadot.org
 
  

###