Central Fairfax Area

Transportation planning in the Central Fairfax area, which includes the City of Fairfax and adjacent portions of Fairfax County, involves the City coordinating with Fairfax County and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) with regard to transportation projects affecting the Central Fairfax area. This cooperative effort provides opportunity for dialogue and exchange of information related to traffic signals, roadway planning, transit planning, and pedestrian and bicycle planning.  The information gathered from this cooperative effort also assists the City in addressing major travel patterns affecting the City, including the facilities and services related to through-traffic, as well as transportation accessibility to and from the City's residential, employment, and retail centers, and provides a basis for recommendations for improvements to the transportation system. 

Fairfax County has recently completed a draft of its Transit Development Plan.  The City has provided input into the development of this plan.  

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority

Regional transportation planning in Northern Virginia is coordinated by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA). The NVTA has sixteen members as follows: the mayors or chairs, or their designees, of the nine cities and counties that are members of the NVTA; two members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and two citizens who reside in counties and cities embraced by the NVTA, appointed by the Governor. In addition, the Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, or his designee, and the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner, or his designee, will serve as non-voting members of the NVTA. The NVTA prioritizes Northern Virginia transportation projects and decides on the allocation of federal and state funds to Northern Virginia jurisdictions.

The NVTA is tasked with preparing an unconstrained, long-range regional transportation plan (the most recent is the TransAction 2040 Plan) for Planning District 8, including transportation improvements of regional significance. The NVTA has significant powers granted by the General Assembly to construct or otherwise implement projects in the adopted plan. These powers include, but are not limited to, the ability to acquire land, impose tolls, and have its bonds validated by Virginia’s courts.

TransAction 2040

The most recent regional transportation plan is TransAction 2040, which was approved by the NVTA in November, 2012.  TransAction 2040 is designed to extend the planning horizon, allowing for consistency with the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) Financially Constrained Long-Range Plan (CLRP). TransAction 2040 includes new projects and introduces a revised evaluation and prioritization process, along with a benefit-cost (b/c) analysis. Like the plan that preceded it, TransAction 2040 is intended to provide a guide for funding future transportation projects in Northern Virginia. More information on TransAction 2040, including the plan summary and map, can be found on NVTA's web site.

HB2313

The General Assembly approved HB2313 on April 3, 2013. This new law imposes certain new taxes and fees on any jurisdiction in the Commonwealth that meets certain criteria. The NVTA is responsible for disbursing the funds for transportation projects in Northern Virginia. The City of Fairfax has been working closely with the other NVTA member jurisdictions to implement the Commonwealth’s landmark transportation bill. 

For more information about the NVTA, please visit their web site or call the NVTA office at 703-766-4650.

Metropolitan Washington Region

Transportation planning in the Metropolitan Washington area is coordinated by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB). The TPB is staffed by the Department of Transportation Planning of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). Members of the TPB include representatives of the transportation agencies of the states of Maryland and Virginia, the District of Columbia, local governments in Virginia and Maryland, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the Maryland and Virginia General Assemblies, and non-voting members from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and federal agencies. In consultation with its technical committee, the TPB is responsible for directing the continuing transportation planning process carried on cooperatively by the states and local communities in the region.

For more information visit TPB's web site or call 202-962-3200.

Transit Planning in Northern Virginia

Transit Planning at the Northern Virginia level is coordinated by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), which consists of 19 commissioners, representing six member jurisdictions: Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun Counties, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church. Five of the 19 commissioners are appointed from the General Assembly, three from the House of Delegates and two from the State Senate. The other commissioner is the director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

NVTC provides a transportation policy forum for the Northern Virginia region, and is charged with allocating state, regional, and federal transit assistance each year among the member jurisdictions.

For more information please visit NVTC's web site or call 703-524-3322.

For More Information 

For more information on regional transportation planning and projects, contact: 

Wendy Block Sanford
Transportation Director
703-385-7889.

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