March 2026 NVTA Update

NTVA's 11th Annual

Northern Virginia Transportation Roundtable

NVTA's 11th Annual Northern Virginia Transportation Roundtable is a wrap! Regional leaders, experts and partners came together for a focused discussion on the technologies and approaches shaping the future of mobility in Northern Virginia. The event focused on how innovative technologies and strategies, including Transit Signal Priority and coordination, connected vehicle infrastructure, microtransit, and emerging mobility platforms, are being applied across the region. Key speakers included:

◆ Monica Backmon, CEO, NVTA

◆ Michelle Davis-Younger, Vice Chair, NVTA & Mayor, City of Manassas 

◆ Paul Comfort, Chief Customer Officer, Modaxo; YouTuber & Podcaster, Transit Unplugged

◆ Brad Stertz, Director, External Affairs, Audi / VW Group; Chairman, Partners for AV Education (PAVE)

◆ Christopher Arabia, Manager of Statewide Commuter Programs, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)

◆ Ruochang Huang, PMP, AICP, PTP, Transit Signal Priority Program Manager, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

◆ Scott Gross, Assistant Director, Transit, Fleet and Commuter Services, Loudoun County Government

◆ Nhan Vu, PE, Signal & Freeway Operations Engineer, Virginia Department of Transportation

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the discussion. We hope to see you for the next Roundtable!

NVTA's FY2026–2031 Six Year Program Public Comment Period Launches THIS WEEK!

This Thursday, April 2 through May 17, NVTA will open a public comment period for the FY2026–2031 Six Year Program (SYP), which includes 27 transportation projects submitted by eight Northern Virginia localities seeking regional funding. The project proposals span bus transit, rail, roadway improvements, transportation technology, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and intersection and interchange upgrades.

Community members are encouraged to review the proposed projects and share their feedback during the comment period. The public is also invited to provide in-person or virtual testimony during the May Authority meeting (May 14). Registration to provide testimony will open on April 2.

Women's History Month

This March for Women's History Month, NVTA recognizes the women across our organization who are leading efforts to advance transportation in Northern Virginia. Their work continues to shape a more sustainable future for the region, and we're proud to highlight their impact!

Winter Bike to Work Day

NVTA joined commuters at Gravelly Point Park on March 13 for Winter Bike to Work Day! It was a great opportunity to connect with riders and share information about NVTA’s

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Action Plan and the GoMyWayVA commuter app. Click the links below to learn more about each initiative.

Eno Transportation Senior Executive Program

On March 23, Monica Backmon, CEO, NVTA, spoke to transportation executives from across the country, sharing her personal story and road to becoming the CEO of NVTA. For 90 minutes, she led a breakout session, answering questions from leaders both near and far.

A New Face at NVTA

Introducing NVTA's new Regional Transportation Modeler, Ashkan Gholamialam! We're thrilled to have him as part of the team.

Background:

Ashkan is a transportation engineer specializing in travel demand models, network optimization and traffic analysis. He recently joined NVTA as a Regional Transportation Modeler after working at Gradient Systematics, LLC, HNTB Corporation and the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida. Ashkan holds a PhD in Transportation Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Florida, Georgia, and Texas as well as a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE).

What He's Excited About:

Ashkan is enthusiastic about collaborating with NVTA staff on upcoming initiatives.

Fun Fact:

Ashkan loves outdoor activities and exploring new places.

Finance Committee

Thursday, April 9, 2026

5:30 p.m. Cancelled



The Finance Committee meets every second Thursday of the month. Watch the meeting live on our YouTube channel.

Governance and Personnel Committee

Thursday, April 9, 2026

6:15 p.m. Cancelled

The Governance and Personnel Committee meets every second Thursday of the month. Watch the meeting live on our YouTube channel.

Authority Meeting

Thursday, April 9, 2026

7:00 p.m. Cancelled

Authority members meet every second Thursday of the month. Watch the meeting live on our YouTube channel.

*The Finance Committee, Governance and Personnel Committee and the Authority will convene on May 14, 2026.