NORTHERN VIRGINIA — NVTA staff on Sept. 17 described a targeted review of funding strategies to support a 2024 VDOT study that identified more than 4,000 miles of bicycle and pedestrian facilities across Northern Virginia and estimated total implementation costs in the tens of billions of dollars.

Keith, an NVTA staff presenter leading the funding review, said the authority received a formal request from the chairs of the House and Senate transportation committees in March to examine funding options and make recommendations. NVTA retained the same consultant that prepared the VDOT study to help ensure continuity in technical findings.

Staff outlined a four‑part approach: catalog existing funding sources used by jurisdictions; review national case studies for regional funding approaches; coordinate with ongoing regional initiatives such as SJ28 and DMV Moves; and solicit input from regional partners and stakeholders. The work has included two regional coordination meetings and an online survey. NVTA staff said participants in the first meeting included 27 external stakeholders and that 14 additional written responses were received via survey.

NVTA staff reported that stakeholders consistently flagged maintenance funding as a principal challenge and said constructing and sustaining projects are difficult to finance. Staff identified commonly used sources such as Transportation Alternatives, VDOT revenue sharing, SmartScale, and regional and local revenue streams, and said the study’s final deliverable will include a funding source matrix that evaluates options by revenue potential, stability, pathway to implementation and socioeconomic impacts.

As part of the review staff conducted an initial qualitative assessment of 45 potential funding strategies spanning general revenue sources, property and sales taxes, transportation‑related fees, and alternative taxes and fees. Staff said the review is high level and does not include project reprioritization, detailed feasibility modeling or new project identification beyond the VDOT 2024 study.

NVTA staff said they plan to present a draft report and recommendations to the Technical Advisory Committee and PCAC in October and to brief General Assembly committee chairs in time for the January 2026 session. Keith told the committee the schedule is tight: staff expect to take comments in October, revise the report in December, and prepare briefings for state legislators in January.

The project manager for the initiative, Star Lacuso, was not present; staff also named Kimberly Horne as consultant and noted her team led the 2024 VDOT study. NVTA staff emphasized they are coordinating with jurisdictions and other regional partners and that the work is intended to produce feasible funding approaches for the network identified in the VDOT analysis.

No formal action was requested from the Technical Advisory Committee at the Sept. 17 meeting; staff said they will return with a draft report for endorsement at the October meeting.