Draft Bus Rapid Transit Action Plan Update

Community input is vital to forming a collective vision for the future of our region. NVTA greatly appreciates the feedback received during the recent public comment period that was inclusive of 10 pop-up events with more than 4,600 interactions and an online feedback form that received nearly 600 responses. Thank you for helping us move the region forward!

Keith Jasper, Principal, Planning & Programming, NVTA, provided an update to the Authority regarding key survey takeaways, the current status of the Draft Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Action Plan and next steps.

The survey findings demonstrated positive support from the community, including from those who said their primary mode of choice is driving, provided BRT is fast, frequent and reliable.

Additional Updates/Takeaways:

• Technical analysis shows the 28 BRT lines individually and collectively will lead to modal shift and reduce congestion.

• Many of the BRT lines would likely be in the ‘competitive range’ for NVTA funding if submitted for evaluation under NVTA’s Six Year Program process.

Quarterly Travel Trends Update

NVTA staff monitor travel trends in Northern Virginia to gain a better understanding of the current transportation landscape and to inform NVTA's long-range transportation planning activities. This quarterly update features the impact of the federal 'Return to In-Person Work' mandate on commuter travel demands in Northern Virginia, in addition to regular updates on highway traffic volumes and transit ridership.

Transit Ridership Trends

NVTA staff have observed a recovery of ridership across Northern Virginia's transit services. OmniRide’s rate of recovery is the highest, fueled by the growth from their commuter services, while Metrorail and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) display steep upward trendlines. For the first time during our data analyses since the pandemic began, OmniRide’s ridership has surpassed 2019 levels. During this period, other bus services such as DASH and Fairfax Connector have maintained ridership above 2019 (pre-COVID) levels. According to DASH staff, ridership numbers may be underreported in March 2025 due to a technical glitch in their system.

Overview: VDOT I-495 Southside Express Lane Study

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) initiated the I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study in 2022. Michelle Shropshire, Northern Virginia Megaproject Director, VDOT, presented an overview of study findings and recommended next steps for the future of I-495.

The study identified 10 alternatives to best meet the transportation needs of the I-495 Southside Corridor, including:

• Providing additional travel choices
• Reducing congestion and improving travel reliability
• Improving safety
• Extending and providing continuity of the express lanes system
• Providing consistency with local and regional plans

VDOT's choice recommendation is adding two Express Lanes in each direction on I-495. Ms. Shropshire explained how this option can increase capacity to relieve congestion, manage demand, and provide a potential funding source for new or expanded transit services and other improvements that benefit the corridor. She explained how it can also support improved bicycle and pedestrian connections and preserve space for future rail transit along the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. VDOT is currently hearing from the public before approaching the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) in July.

VDOT's Next Steps:

VDOT is seeking feedback from the community through June 26th. Click here to learn more.

We can't highlight it all! Click any of the links below to access each agenda

item covered during the June 2025 Authority Meeting.