Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Northern Virginia Transportation Authority unanimously adopts 2026 legislative priorities focused on net-new transit funding
Summary
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority on Dec. 11 voted unanimously to adopt its 2026 legislative priorities, pressing the General Assembly for net-new, dedicated operating and capital funding to support local bus services, VRE, OmniRide and Metro, and planning outreach to newly named state officials and incoming delegates.
Chair Matt Randall presiding, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority unanimously adopted its 2026 legislative priorities during its Dec. 11 meeting, calling on the General Assembly to approve net-new, dedicated funding for transit operations and capital across the region.
In presenting the final draft, Miss Baynard — NVTA staff — emphasized protecting the authority's existing funding sources and securing both operating and capital support. "This is about the infrastructure that supports what we're doing as a region to further our economy, get people to schools, to health care," Baynard said. Staff flagged an operating "rebenchmarking" figure reported as about $153,000,000 to be in place by fiscal 2027 and described a capital funding package that planners say must be bondable, sustainable and in place by fiscal 2028 to address Metro capital needs.
The authority discussed the regional DMV Moves process and a related nonbinding resolution that passed multiple regional boards; members said the plan requires parallel approvals by Maryland and District of Columbia bodies for a multi-jurisdictional Metro funding solution. Chair Randall and staff urged jurisdictions to endorse the DMV Moves recommendations so the region speaks with one voice in Richmond and beyond.
Legal staff clarified remote participation rules during the meeting: members must have their camera on to be counted toward quorum for votes. Chair Randall paused to keep a vote open while one member switched devices; the motion to adopt the legislative priorities was then called and recorded as passing unanimously.
The authority also discussed outreach plans for the Jan. 2026 General Assembly session and special-election timing after two Delegates were named to statewide cabinet posts, which will create vacancies that must be filled before the legislature convenes. Miss Baynard said staff plans early briefings for newly seated delegates in the first weeks of the session.
The authority's next organizational meeting is scheduled for Jan. 8, when members will finalize leadership nominations and there may be public comment.
In short: NVTA adopted a package aimed at securing predictable operating and capital revenue for the region's transit network and set plans for coordinated advocacy with member jurisdictions and incoming state officials.
