Authority Meeting Highlights
The Authority convened at NVTA's offices Thursday evening, meeting for the second time this year.
February 14, 2020
Happy Valentine's Day! You know what we love? ... Hearing your feedback on multimodal projects we're funding throughout the region and the work we're doing at NVTA. In fact, last evening's Authority meeting kicked off with Keith Jasper, Principal, Transportation Planning and Programming, NVTA, and Dee Allsop, Ph.D., Founding Partner, Heart+Mind Strategies, presenting the results of NVTA's 2019 Transportation Perception Survey, which tracks changes in transportation attitudes and priorities in the DMV region. The 616 survey respondents were age 18+ and residents of Northern Virginia, but employment locations included Virginia, Maryland and the District.
Dee Allsop, Ph.D., Founding Partner, Heart+Mind Strategies, presents the Transportation Perception Survey results.
This latest survey builds upon previous surveys of transportation-related public perceptions/awareness conducted in 2015 and 2016, as part of NVTA’s long-range transportation plan, TransAction, update.
Findings include:
- Concern about traffic congestion on quality of life decreases to 26% (vs. 33% in 2016), and the focus turns to areas like housing. Although, reducing traffic congestion and improving transportation options to improve quality of life, still ranked the highest.
- Traffic congestion is also less influential when choosing where to live (17%) vs. where to work (42%).
- Residents focus on essentials like safety, affordability, opportunity and ease of commuting when considering where to live or work. Social opportunities and walkable communities are secondary.
- Residents report their normal commute time is 3 minutes faster (since 2016); slight decline in number of residents who drive to work (62% in 2016 vs. 59% in 2019)
- 30 minutes a normal commute for survey takers; fastest commute 21.7 minutes; max acceptable 36.8 minutes
- A majority now say the region is doing a mostly “good job” on key transportation priorities impacting quality of life (56% 2019; 51% 2016; 43% 2015)
- Among potential projects, new/extended Metro rail lines top the list for those surveyed. When asked how they’d prioritize investments, residents distribute most funds to roads and rail/transit.
- Residents describe self-driving cars as “scary,” “unsafe” or “dangerous,” with a smaller group also categorizing them as “good.”
The survey was conducted on NVTA’s behalf by an independent research company, Heart+Mind Strategies, in December 2019. The full results can be viewed here.
Speaking of public feedback, we're excited to announce the Authority's approval of the Public Hearing date for the FY2020-2025 Six Year Program (SYP). The NVTA is seeking public input on its list of 41 candidate transportation projects submitted by 13 jurisdictions/agencies for NVTA regional funding consideration. The projects being evaluated cover multiple modes of transportation, including roadways, transit and pedestrian/bicycle pathways.The public is invited to learn more about and comment on NVTA's candidate projects during the Open House and Public Hearing scheduled May 14, 2020. More details to come. Please stay tuned!
Monica Backmon, Executive Director, NVTA, seeks the Authority's approval of the Public Hearing Date for the FY2020-2025 Six Year Program, and recommends the motion to endorse three INFRA Discretionary Grant applications.
On January 13, 2020, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced the latest round of the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Discretionary Grant Program, which makes available more than $900 million for American infrastructure investments. The INFRA program is expected to award $906 million to significant projects that support the Administration’s focus on infrastructure improvements.
Last night, the Counties of Prince William and Fairfax, as well as the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), sought the Authority's endorsement of their applications for the Infrastructure and Rebuilding America (INFRA) Discretionary Grant Program. The Authority accepted the motion to endorse Prince William County's Route 15 Improvements with Railroad Overpass, Fairfax County's Richmond Highway Project, and DRPT's Long Bridge Expansion Project for the INFRA Discretionary Grant Program funding.
Tracy Baynard, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, provides an update on General Assembly activities.
As the Virginia General Assembly has reached its halfway point, Tracy Baynard, Senior Vice President of Infrastructure & Economic Development, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, provided the Authority with an update of the 2020 Legislative Session.
There are currently three funding proposals that could impact the NVTA.
- On Tuesday, February 11, House Bill 729 (Vivian Watts) passed in the House of Delegates by a vote of 55-45. The Bill would restore $70 million to the Authority.
- House Bill 1414 (Eileen Filler-Corn) and Senate Bill 890 (Dick Saslaw) [Administration Omnibus Bills] would restore $30 million in funding for the Authority.
Authority member, Hal Parrish, Mayor, Manassas, provides an update on Finance Committee conversations.
Lastly, Hal Parrish, Mayor of Manassas, Authority Vice-Chair and Chair of the NVTA Finance Committee, provided a brief update on Committee discussions and directed fellow Authority members to the written reports within the meeting packet. During the January 16, 2020 meeting, the Finance Committee received a presentation which demonstrated the use of the investment tools and subscription services recommended by the Finance Committee and approved by the Authority. The demonstration showed how the tools provide real-time market and best price information for the management of the Authority’s $1 billion investment portfolio.
Earlier in the evening, the Governance and Personnel Committee met and discussed the preliminary Financial Analysis of the 2020 General Assembly Bills providing restoration to the Authority, that can be viewed here.
|
