VDOT wants the public to weigh in on transportation projects and initiatives; $60 million worth of projects are on the NNK

The Virginia Department of Transportation recently posted this on Reddit.

Commonwealth Transportation Board Invites Public Feedback On Transportation Projects And Initiatives

Public encouraged to provide input on projects that are recommended for funding

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will host nine meetings across Virginia and is inviting the public to share feedback on transportation projects that have been recommended for funding, as well as other transportation initiatives. Members of the community may participate by attending public meetings or submitting comments online, by email or by mail.

The public will have an opportunity to learn and share feedback about:

The Draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2031 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP), which allocates public funds to highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, and transportation demand management projects. The Draft FY 2026-2031 SYIP identifies projects proposed for inclusion in the final program, which will be before the CTB at its June meeting. All federally eligible projects in the SYIP will be included in the federally required Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to document how Virginia will obligate its federal funds. The Draft FY 2026-2031SYIP includes projects recommended for funding in the following programs:

  • SMART SCALE — provides funding to public transportation, transportation demand management, and capital improvement projects through the High Priority Projects Program and the Construction District Grant Program
  • Safety — provides funding for safety improvements across the roadway network
  • Innovation and Technology Transportation Fund (ITTF) — provides funding for pilot programs and fully developed initiatives related to high-tech infrastructure improvements
  • State of Good Repair — provides funding for deteriorated pavements and structurally deficient bridges
  • Public Transportation and Rail — provides funding to supublic transportation agencies and rail programs throughout the Commonwealth

Comments will also be accepted for new projects valued at more than $25 million.

The public meetings are scheduled in each of the locations at 4 p.m., except as noted below:

  • Tuesday, April 22, Richmond District, Richmond District Hawthorne Auditorium, 2430 Pine Forest Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834
  • Wednesday, April 23, Lynchburg District, Lynchburg District Ramey Auditorium, 4303 Campbell Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24501
  • Thursday, April 24, Hampton Roads District, Hampton Roads District James River Auditorium, 7511 Burbage Drive, Suffolk, VA 23435
  • Tuesday, May 6, Fredericksburg District, Fredericksburg District Auditorium, 86 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22405
  • Wednesday, May 7, Culpeper District, Culpeper District Auditorium, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701
  • Thursday, May 8, 5 p.m., Northern Virginia District, Northern Virgina District Potomac Conference Room, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
  • Tuesday, May 13, Bristol District, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, One Partnership Circle, Abingdon, VA 24210
  • Wednesday, May 14, Salem District, Holiday Inn Valley View, 3315 Ordway Drive, Roanoke, VA 24017
  • Thursday, May 15, Staunton District, Blue Ridge Community College, Robert E. Plecker Workforce Center, 1 College Lane, Weyers Cave, VA 24486

Online sources

You can also submit your comments via online form, email or mail by May 21, 2025:

  • For roads and highways: Six-YearProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov or Infrastructure Investment Director, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
  • For transit and rail: DRPTPR@drpt.virginia.gov or Public Information Office, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, 600 East Main Street, Suite 2102, Richmond, VA 23219.

Title VI

The Commonwealth is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of its services on the basis of race, color or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need further information on these policies or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, please contact the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Title VI Compliance Officer at 804-786-2730 or the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s Title VI Compliance Officer at 804-786-4440 (TTY users call 711).

For additional information about the CTB, visit https://ctb.virginia.gov/about-the-ctb/.


NNK and the Six Year Improvement Plan

Table with SYIP allocations by county

Projects on the Northern Neck are estimated to cost more than $60 million; of that, nearly $30 million remains to be spent in FYs 2026 through 2030. Learn more about the 337 Fredericksburg District projects and 38 Northern Neck projects in VDOT SYIP for comment 040925.

Northern Neck elements of the Six Year Improvement Plan (SYIP) include the 10-mile TriWay Trail, the replacement of the Rte 695 bridge over Oyster Creek in Lancaster County, and the Dwight Avenue Extension in Colonial Beach.

While the SYIP doesn’t include details about projects, VDOT does make info available. For example, Statement of Qualifications Fredericksburg District Bridge Bundling (2023) (PDF), states the following about the Oyster Creek bridge project:

Critical Risk #3 – Maintaining Access to Fleets Island

Bridges like Route 695 over Oyster Creek can serve as the only means of practical access for communities to essential goods, services, and property. Virginia’s eastern shore, northern neck, and middle peninsula regions are home to several such island communities. Bridge reconstruction projects in these locales must be sensitive to the continuity of access for island residents and businesses. This requires the meticulous planning of construction phasing to balance construction efficiency and quality with the need to always maintain access to the island. Maintaining access to Fleets Island over Oyster Creek will be critical to the success of the Bundle.

Limiting Recreational Access: Oyster Creek is a part of the Fleets Island Water Trail. This is a recreational system of designated routes for paddlers visiting Fleets Island. A canoe/kayak launch and parking lot are located on the south side of the island. In order to complete the water trail, paddlers must navigate under the Route 695 crossing of Oyster Creek. Poorly maintained access to Fleets Island will not only impact tourists' ability to access the parking lot and canoe/kayak launch, but it could also result in safety concerns such as overhead hazards, dangerous currents in the channel, and trapping hazards, if the safety of the recreational users are not considered.

Comments are due to VDOT May 21.