RICHMOND – The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) released today the state’s working draft of the Fiscal Years 2013 - 18 Six-Year Improvement Program. The program allocates $10.6 billion in funding to transportation improvements over the next six fiscal years beginning July 1, 2012.  Funding goes toward highway, road and bridge projects as well as rail, transit, bicycle, pedestrian and other transportation improvements across the state.

The proposed six-year program is dependent on the General Assembly approving a two-year budget that does not include major earmarks.

Each year the six-year program is updated to reflect the latest projected revenues and transportation priorities. The overall size of the draft program is the same as the program approved last year. Allocations are based on the following priorities:

• Complete projects under construction
  
  
• Complete preliminary engineering or right of way phases of other projects
  
  
• Maximize federal funding
  
  
• Address safety issues by funding deficient bridges and pavements
  
  
• Support transportation projects procured under the Public-Private Transportation Act and the Governor’s ongoing transportation priorities

Further details will be known once public meetings are held over the next month and the board has reviewed the comments.  The final six-year program will be released in June 2012.

Draft six-year program funding breakdown:
Roads, highways and bridges - $8.3 billion
Rail, transit and other improvements - $2.3 billion
Total - $10.6 billion

Public Meetings

The draft six-year program is online at  http://syip.virginiadot.org/Pages/allProjects.aspx. Other sources are www.VirginiaDOT.org and www.DRPT.Virginia.gov.   The program can also be reviewed at Virginia Department of Transportation’s district and residency offices and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s Richmond office.

The public may comment about essential rail, public transportation, commuter service, bicycle, pedestrian and highway projects (except local/secondary roads) at the hearings. Public comments will be considered before the board adopts a final program in June. The FY 20013-18 program will go into effect July 1, 2012.

Public meeting schedule:

Citizens can send their comments to:

Public Information Office
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
600 E. Main St., Suite 2102, Richmond, VA 23219
drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov

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

Comments must be received by May 18, 2012.

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Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.