Every year, Virginia decides which transportation projects move forward–and which ones don’t.

Those decisions shape everything from congestion, suburban sprawl, and safety to economic growth across the Commonwealth. But years before most people notice the impact, the decisions have already been made.

Right now is one of the few moments when that process is still open to public input.

Each spring, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) hosts a series of in-person public meetings in every region of the state as part of the Six-Year Improvement Program process, to give residents a direct opportunity to weigh in on funding priorities before decisions are finalized.

At these meetings, attendees can:

  • Learn about proposed projects in VDOT’s searchable Six-Year Improvement Program.  Projects that primarily or substantially include active transportation facilities are often funded from the federal Transportation Alternatives (TAP), Highway Safety Improvement (HSIP), Regional Surface Transportation (RSTP), or Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) programs, or from VDOT’s Revenue Sharing Program.
  • Ask questions and talk with transportation staff
  • Provide public comment that will be considered before funding decisions are finalized

Meeting details and links to the lists of the projects proposed for funding can be found on this VDOT webpage. All meetings will be held at 4pm, except where noted below:

Additionally, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) will host a virtual public meeting on May 27 at 5:30p.m. More information can be found on the DRPT website.

Besides weighing in to support or oppose particular project funding proposals, bicycling and active mobility advocates can use these nine regional meetings to alert VDOT leadership of relevant concerns in their region or locality, such as:

  • inadequate bicycling accommodations or wayfinding along segments of US Bicycle Routes 1 or 76;
  • deteriorated shared-use paths or unswept bike lanes along VDOT highways;
  • inadequate opportunities to reconfigure roadways with bike lanes, paved shoulders, and/or other safety features at minimal cost during the scheduled resurfacing of VDOT roadways;
  • excessive design speeds that harm vulnerable road users on multilane commercial arterial roadways;
  • traffic signals that lack pedestrian crossing signals or that fail to detect waiting bike riders on the roadway;
  • winter maintenance practices that block sidewalks and paths at intersections and bus stops with mounds of snow and ice for weeks after winter storms; and
  • hazardous intersections and freeway interchanges.

Now is the time to take part. Whether by attending a meeting or submitting comments online, Virginians have an opportunity to be part of the conversation before transportation funding decisions are finalized.

The outcomes of these decisions will impact communities across the Commonwealth for years to come, and when more voices are included the result is a transportation system that better reflects the needs and priorities of all Virginians–not just a few.

About the Virginia Bicycling Federation

The Virginia Bicycling Federation (VBF) works to make Virginia the most bicycle-friendly state in the nation. Through advocacy, education, and community partnerships, we promote safe, accessible, and enjoyable bicycling for people of all ages and abilities. From historic trails to vibrant downtowns, bicycling connects us to our communities—and to Virginia’s rich past and promising future. Learn more at www.vabike.org.

To join or donate to VBF, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, go to https://app.joinit.com/o/virginia-bicycling-federation.

This article was written by VBF board members Jenn Million and Allen Muchnick.