Key Congestion-Reduction Bill
(HB 599) to House Transportation Committee

HB 599 requiring VDOT to evaluate and rank Northern Virginia highway and public transit projects based on their cost effectiveness in reducing daily highway congestion and improving mobility and saving lives in the event of a homeland security emergency has received subcommittee endorsement and advanced to the full House Transportation Committee.

The House Transportation Committee next meets Tuesday afternoon, February 7th.

Click here, to register your support with House Transportation Committee members.

Sponsored by Delegate Jim LeMunyon, this bill is very straightforward. In coordination with VDOT,VDRPT and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (i.e. local governments) the Commonwealth Transportation Board is to objectively evaluate and rank projects based on their ability to reduce congestion regionally and separately. All projects, including new river crossings and the Orange Line extension to Centreville and beyond are to be evaluated. Lists are to be used as guidance, but are not intended to be the sole determinant in allocating transportation funding.

Incredibly Fairfax County and several other area localities that regularly proclaim that "transportation is a state responsibility" are opposed to the state helping determine which transportation investments would most help reduce congestion in the nation's most congested region. Such opposition conveys the impression that localities are not serious about congestion reduction and hampers efforts to secure new regional and state funding.

HB 599 is a commonsense approach to a serious problem impacting the lives and well-being of every Northern Virginian.

It's Time to Get Serious about Congestion Reduction
Time to Support HB 599