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Northern Virginia Transportation Authority changes left Alexandria projects unfunded, mayor says
Summary
Mayor Aaliyah Gaskins told council that adjustments to the state Smart Scale funding formula shifted awards away from Northern Virginia, leaving Alexandria projects for King Street and Eisenhower/Van Dorn without the requested grants.
Alexandria projects seeking state Smart Scale transportation grants were not funded under recent funding rounds, Mayor Aaliyah Gaskins told the Alexandria City Council during reports from members on boards and commissions.
"We submitted for up to $20,000,000 and did not receive that funding," Gaskins said, referring to the King Street Bradley safety and mobility enhancement request. She added that the city submitted up to $25,000,000 for Eisenhower Avenue and Van Dorn Street improvements and likewise did not receive funding.
Why it matters: Smart Scale is Virginia's primary competitive program for major transportation investments. Regional formula changes and a cost-benefit approach that does not fully capture Northern Virginia construction costs, council members said, contributed to the results.
Council reaction and context: Gaskins said Northern Virginia Transportation Authority members spent substantial meeting time identifying how the new formula disadvantages the region, especially given higher local construction costs. She said the bulk of Smart Scale awards in the last round went to Richmond and Hampton Roads despite congestion conditions in Northern Virginia.
Next steps: Council members said Northern Virginia jurisdictions will continue to provide feedback about the formula and seek ways to advocate for adjustments; no specific council action was taken at the meeting.
Ending: Mayor Gaskins said the NVTA discussion also included updates on General Assembly activity and bylaws housekeeping; she encouraged staff and council to coordinate on follow-up advocacy efforts for future funding rounds.
