NoVa transportation body approves funding for road projects

NoVa transportation body approves funding for road projects

Although the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has wanted to spend money on road and transit improvements since 2002, state politics and lawsuits have prevented that – until last week, when it approved several highway and transit upgrades. Sixty percent of the money is to be spent on roads.

The group had some money to work with, thanks to the gas tax hike that kicked in July 1. The state has collected $116 million so far this month. The NVTA agreed to borrow $93 million for other projects.

This was a place – finally – where transportation gridlock had become so onerous that it actually overcame the political gridlock to which we have become accustomed, Bob Holsworth, former professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, told the Washington Post.

Among the approved projects: $12 million for improvements on Columbia Pike, $31 million for widening Route 28 in Fairfax County, $5 million for a power upgrade on Metros Orange Line and almost $20 million for VRE rail cars.

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