RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) will provide the public an opportunity to comment about essential rail, public transportation, commuter service, bicycle, pedestrian, and interstate and primary highway projects planned for the Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) for fiscal years 2008-2013.

The agencies will conduct one meeting in each transportation district to collect information for the annual update of the SYIP.

The schedule for all meetings (except Northern Virginia where the schedule begins an hour later) is as follows:

• 5-6 p.m. — Public officials briefing



• 6-6:30 p.m. — Open-house for public discussion. Written and verbal comments may be submitted.



• 6:30 p.m. — Public discussion. Written and verbal comments may be submitted at this time as well.

VDOT and DRPT will present information on programmed projects that require additional funding to be brought to completion and other candidate projects.

It will cost an additional $7 billion to complete all phases of interstate, primary, urban, and secondary road system projects currently in development. This does not include PPTA projects.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will take public comments into consideration prior to adopting a final program. The CTB has a legal responsibility to adopt an updated program by July 1, 2007. Comments received at these meetings, along with the latest revenue picture, will be used to develop the draft SYIP. A final public hearing on the draft SYIP will be held in the spring.

The CTB will hold nine public meetings on the Six-Year Improvement Program at the locations below. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting closest to them.

Salem District, Oct. 17, 5-7 p.m.
Salem Civic Center
1001 Boulevard, Salem

Bristol District, Oct. 18, 5-7 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
Grand Hall, One Partnership Circle, Abingdon

Richmond District, Oct. 24, 5-7 p.m.
John Tyler Community College Student Center
Room N102 A and B
13101 Jeff Davis Highway, Chester

Culpeper District, Oct. 25, 5-7 p.m.
VDOT Culpeper District Office Auditorium
1601 Orange Road, Culpeper

Staunton District, Oct. 26, 5-7 p.m.
Augusta Government Center
18 Government Center Lane, Verona

Northern Virginia District, Nov. 1, 6-8 p.m.
Fairfax County Government Center
12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax

Hampton Roads District, Nov. 2, 5-7 p.m.
Hampton Roads Planning District Office
723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake

Fredericksburg District, Nov. 6, 5-7 p.m.
VDOT Fredericksburg District Auditorium
87 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg

Lynchburg District, Nov. 8, 5-7 p.m.
The Kirkley Hotel
2900 Candler’s Mountain Road, Lynchburg

During the comment period, individuals will be allowed to speak for three minutes each. Groups will be asked to designate one person to speak on their behalf. Written comments can also be submitted at the meetings. Individuals who cannot attend may send their comments up to 10 calendar days after the meeting to:

Public Information Officer
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
1313 E. Main St., Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23218-0590
drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov

Programming Director
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Six-YearProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov

For more information, go to www.VirginiaDOT.org or www.DRPT.Virginia.gov.



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Page last modified: Nov. 4, 2006