SUMMARY REPORT Northern Virginia Source: VDOT Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................... 2 Northern Virginia ................................................................................................ 2 Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth ............................................................ 2 Northern Virginia and the Washington Region ...................................................... 2 TransAction 2030 Plan Process .................................................................................. 3 Vision, Goals & Strategies .................................................................................. 3 Public Participation .............................................................................................. 4 Telephone Survey ................................................................................................. 4 Evaluation Process ............................................................................................... 5 Constrained Long-Range Plan .............................................................................. 5 Highway System Performance ...................................................................................... 6 1999 Highway System Peak Period Performance ................................................... 6 2005 Highway System Peak Period Performance ................................................... 6 2030 CLRP Highway System Peak Period Performance .......................................... 7 TransAction 2030 Plan Highway System Peak Period Performance .......................... 7 Transit Performance..................................................................................................... 8 2005 Metrorail Passenger Load Level of Service..................................................... 8 TransAction 2030 Plan Metrorail Passenger Load Level of Service ........................... 8 2005 VRE Passenger Load Level of Service ........................................................... 9 TransAction 2030 Plan VRE Passenger Load Level of Service .................................. 9 The Multi-Modal System ............................................................................................ 10 Transit Analysis .................................................................................................. 10 Travel Demand Model ........................................................................................ 11 Highway Improvements....................................................................................... 11 Transit Improvements ......................................................................................... 11 Bicycle and Trail Improvements............................................................................ 11 System-wide Technology Improvements ................................................................ 11 Park and Ride Lot Improvements.......................................................................... 11 Cost Estimates ........................................................................................................... 12 Funding.................................................................................................................... 12 Next Steps......................................................................................... Inside Back Cover About the NVTA.............................................................................. Outside Back Cover 1 Northern Virginia orthern Virginia is the A fundamental key to maintaining the In 2002, the Commonwealth’s fastest growing region’s prosperity is a sound transporta- Virginia General Nregion in terms of population, tion system. Northern Virginia’s trans- Assembly created the employment and development. People con- portation network is multi-modal, consisting Northern Virginia tinue to be drawn to this area for job of roads, transit, bicycle/pedestrian net- Transportation opportunities and its educational, cultural works, and two major airports. But the Authority (NVTA) and and historic attractions. Northern Virginia system is currently struggling to serve the charged it with devel- consists of the counties of Arlington, traveling needs of residents and countless oping a long-range The Washington Post, December 28, 2004 Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William; the others traveling in the region for commerce regional transporta- cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, or pleasure. The region must improve its tion plan. This plan, called the TransAction Manassas and Manassas Park; and the transportation system or the Commonwealth 2030 Plan, updates the 2020 Transportation towns of Dumfries, Herndon, Leesburg, will lose important jobs and their accompa- Plan and provides the blueprint for estab- Purcellville, and Vienna. nying revenue. lishing investment priorities. Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth The Northern Virginia region accounts for 21 percent of the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on only eight percent of the Commonwealth’s roadway lane miles. It also accounts for 75 percent of transit ridership within the Commonwealth. The entire transportation system needs an infusion of resources to maintain it in good operating condition and to increase capacity. Land Area Roadway Lane Miles Vehicle Miles Transit Population Economic Base (jobs) Traveled 4%8% 21%75% 23% 29% The Washington Post Northern Virginia and the Source: Census Source: VDOT Source: VDOT Source: Northern Virginia Source: Census Source: Woods and Poole Transportation Commission Washington Region Northern Virginia Rest of Virginia Within the next 25 years, Northern Virginia is expected to continue to attract highly educated professionals as the area The TransAction 2030 Plan absorbs approximately 651,400 new jobs, findings include: or more than half of the new jobs expected to come to the Metropolitan Washington • Over $15 billion are needed to complete the projects in the Plan Region. It is also projected to attract 918,500 new residents or 56 percent • All modes in the Northern Virginia transportation network are experiencing of those expected to relocate in the increased congestion Metropolitan area. Today, Northern • Completing items in the region’s Virginia is home to 2,164,700 residents CLRP does not improve the and 1,238,900 jobs.1 highway level of service (LOS) Challenges Northern Virginia’s growth in jobs and • The highway LOS improves only population could contribute to a regional with completion of TransAction • Improve travel conditions in severely housing shortage anticipated by the 2030 projects Metropolitan Washington Council of congested corridors • The transit LOS analysis shows Governments. More residents will then • Better connect activity centers and that more areas have the density be forced to find housing outside the enhance all modes of transportation to support transit service Metropolitan region requiring longer • Strive to attain federally mandated air commutes that will compound congestion • Both highway and transit projects on area roads. are needed to solve Northern quality standards Virginia’s congestion. • Fund aging infrastructure needs 1. Source: Metropolitan Washington Council of • Attain dedicated funding for critically Governments, Round 7.0 Cooperative Forecasts. needed transportation projects. 2 TransAction 2030 Plan Process Vision, Goals & Strategies he vision adopted by the Transportation Coordinating Council in 1999 continued to guide this update of the 2020 Plan. However, for the TransAction 2030 Plan a cutting Tedge approach was used to analyze the extensive transit, bicycle, and pedestrian net- work to complement the highway network analysis. This multi-modal analysis provides an understanding of the interactions between the modes (driving, taking a bus, walking and biking) to evaluate the effect of investments on all users of the transportation system. The TransAction 2030 planning process also included innovative outreach to all of the communi- ties that make up the Northern Virginia region. This outreach resulted in input to help Vision prioritize the most desired improvements among eight major transportation corridors. The final set of priorities reflects the public’s In the 21st century, Northern Virginia will develop and desire for more multi-modal solutions and sustain a multi-modal transportation system that supports our includes substantial investment in transit, “economy and quality of life. It will be fiscally sustainable, roads, trails, and sidewalks. promote areas of concentrated growth, manage both demand and capacity, and employ the best technology, joining rail, roadway, bus, air, water, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities into an interconnected network. Strategies • Measure the extent of transit service ” in the region Goals • Provide increased road and transit The goals developed for the capacity TransAction 2030 Plan build on goals from • Improve connections between the 2020 Plan and earlier plans in activity centers Northern Virginia and the Metropolitan • Use technology for more efficient Washington region. These include: system operations • Maintain the existing system for • Provide an integrated, multi-modal maximum performance transportation system • Provide a multi-modal solution. • Provide responsive transportation service to customers • Respect historical and environmental factors • Recognize the linkage between transportation and land use • Incorporate the benefits