NVTA committee outlines timeline for FY22 six‑year program; public comment set for April 15–May 22

Members of a Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) committee received an update on the FY22 six‑year program and the related transaction (long‑range project list). Staff said a public comment packet covering 26 eligible projects and supporting evaluation materials will be posted April 15; a public comment period will run April 15–May 22, an open house will coincide with the regional joint transportation meeting hosted by VDOT on May 4, and the authority will hold a public hearing immediately before its regular meeting on May 12.

The packet will include two‑page summaries for each project, a map showing project locations, and a project evaluation summary that ranks projects by congestion reduction relative to cost (CRRC). Staff explained that when the materials are published they will be resorted by CRRC so projects with the highest congestion‑reduction‑per‑dollar appear at the top. Staff said its initial recommendation will be a top‑down cumulative cut based on available revenues, but that statutory priorities and other qualitative attributes may justify recommending departures from a strict CRRC ranking.

Staff described the evaluation framework used this cycle: three quantitative scales (congestion reduction relative to cost, transaction/project ratings, and a long‑term benefit measure rooted in state guidance) plus qualitative considerations such as whether a project is a continuation, the presence of non‑NVTA funding, and an applicant’s track record on delivering projects. The presentation emphasized geographic and modal balance as part of the final package review so funding is not concentrated in a single jurisdiction or on a single mode.

On long‑term benefit—an element of the HB 2313 statutory framework—staff said it will play a larger role this cycle to reduce large disparities between jurisdictions’ attributable revenue and the benefits they receive. Staff reported it is running jurisdictional benefit calculations and will share those figures with committee members before the public release on April 15.

Staff reviewed NVTA revenue sources and fiscal considerations. NVTA’s primary revenue source is sales tax, and staff said sales tax makes the authority less exposed in the near term to a proposed state gas‑tax suspension; other revenue streams include grantors tax, a roughly $20 million “off‑the‑top” allocation from the Commonwealth, and Interstate Operations & Enhancement funds. Staff cautioned the authority remains exposed to longer‑term risks if state revenues decline and noted that NVTA’s current cash balance (much of it already assigned) limits the immediate case for issuing debt.

The presentation also described the transaction update process. This six‑year program is the last cycle based on the 2017 transaction plan; a new transaction (long‑range project list) will be adopted later this year. The update proceeds in three phases: Phase 1 (data discovery and public input), Phase 2 (internal analysis; current phase), and Phase 3 (formal public comment and adoption). Staff outlined scenario work under way (post‑pandemic travel patterns, a technology‑heavy future, and pricing/incentives scenarios) and said a fourth scenario will be built after results from the first three are reviewed.

Staff described a regional bus rapid transit (BRT) working group convened for the transaction update. The working group has identified regional BRT candidate projects and associated needs—vehicle fleets, maintenance and storage, electrification, transit signal priority, and mobility hubs. Staff stressed that listing a project in the transaction makes it eligible for NVTA funding but does not commit funding.

Committee members and staff discussed scheduling and process. Staff said the committee’s June meeting is critical: staff intends to deliver formal recommendations in early June so the authority can post its materials in advance of a July authority meeting where adoption is anticipated. The committee agreed to meet for a recommendation work session on June 23 (07:30 p.m.) and to hold a May meeting on May 26 (05:00 p.m.). The April committee meeting was rescheduled to April 21. Staff also discussed virtual‑participation rules and the need for a physical quorum for committee action under current practice.

The meeting closed with staff noting they are drafting a regional letter responding to the governor’s proposed gas‑tax suspension and will circulate scheduling emails and materials to committee members.