CVTA chair Tyrone Nelson outlines regional transportation projects and funding for 2026

Tyrone Nelson, chair of the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, presented the authority’s slate of transportation projects for 2026 and highlighted the role of CVTA funding in advancing regional priorities.

"On behalf of the CVTA, I'm pleased to share some of our transportation projects for 2026," Nelson said, and told listeners that "working together, we've allocated more than $862 million to 74 regional projects through 2032." He added that when distributions to localities and GRTC are included, the total "jumps to more than $1.6 billion across central Virginia."

Nelson said the projects are intended to improve safety, connections and opportunities across nine localities in Planning District 15. He described completed and in-progress examples, beginning with the Fall Line Trail: "Construction of the Fall Line Trail is well underway. Sections in Ashlin and Handover are open for biking, walking, and other recreational uses," and he said all sections in Himrio are funded and are either open, under construction, or in design.

He said Richmond is working on routing and design for the trail’s southern section and that Chesterfield and neighboring localities are coordinating on a design-bill project. Nelson also said CVTA funded a study of a possible two-lane roadway alignment for Route 5 and New Osborne that would include bicycle and pedestrian accommodations and evaluate costs, community impacts and environmental alternatives, as well as proposed intersection improvements and a bridge over a CSX railyard.

On highways and local capacity, Nelson described the second phase of the Powhite extension, saying it "will include construction of a two-lane road with a shared-use path on new alignment from Waridge Road to Genito Road" to support growth in western Chesterfield and the Magnolia Manufacturing and Technology Park.

Nelson said CVTA is partnering with the Capitol Region Airport Commission to relocate a portion of Bulah Road that currently blocks taxiway access to Richmond International Airport, giving the Virginia Army National Guard direct access to the airport. He said CVTA is also working with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to design and build an overnight storage and servicing yard; with additional storage tracks and improvements, Nelson said local passenger rail service between Richmond and Washington, D.C., could grow "from one round trip to five round trips each day."

Public transit investments include an extension of the Pulse bus rapid transit system westward. Nelson said CVTA funding will extend the Pulse from its current terminus to the intersection of Perm Road and West Broad Street, adding about four miles of shared bus lanes, modifications at 15 intersections and 13 station platforms.

Nelson highlighted a major bridge project in Richmond, saying the city is tapping about $44 million in CVTA support to replace the more-than-75-year-old Arthur Ashe Boulevard bridge that crosses CSX tracks near the Diamond District; the replacement will be wider for vehicles and pedestrians and will be raised to meet current standards.

Nelson closed by reiterating that since its creation by the General Assembly in 2020 the CVTA has been "instrumental in helping our region address transportation challenges and create opportunities to grow," and thanked the board and staff for their work to move the projects forward.

Nelson's presentation provided a programmatic update rather than formal board actions; no motions or votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt.