DRPT Six-Year Improvement Program, Budget Approved at June Commonwealth Transportation Board Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 20, 2018

 

Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation

Contact: Chris Smith

Phone: (804) 225-3930

Email: chris.smith@drpt.virginia.gov

 

DRPT Six-Year Improvement Program, Budget Approved at June Commonwealth Transportation Board Meeting

$4.4 Billion Allocated to Rail and Public Transportation Improvements Across Virginia
DRPT’s Annual Budget also approved

RICHMOND, Va. - The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved the latest budget and Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), which allocates a record $4.4 billion to rail and public transportation projects over the next six fiscal years beginning July 1, 2018.

“This year’s budget demonstrates our Commonwealth’s commitment to improving infrastructure and advancing our multimodal platform for Virginia’s economy,” said Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine.

FY 2019-2024 DRPT Six-Year Improvement Program breakdown: 

$4.4 billion - Total 

• $3.7 billion – Public Transportation Initiatives
• $643 million – Rail Initiatives

The DRPT SYIP allocates over $2.1 billion to address the significant capital and operating needs of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), an increase of $927 million. $158 million in toll revenue collections from I-395 and I-66 are also programmed to public transportation and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) options in those corridors.

DRPT will also invest $643 million in Passenger and Freight Rail Programs, including major capacity and improvement projects, like Atlantic Gateway, Acca Yard, Long Bridge, and the Virginia Railway Express along the I-95 corridor. The SYIP also allocates capital and operating funding to four state-supported Amtrak routes consisting of six daily round-trip Amtrak trains, including funding the extension of additional Amtrak service to Norfolk, and studying future extension of the Roanoke service to the New River Valley and beyond.

To support short-line freight railroads in Virginia, the SYIP also allocates $35 million to the Short Line Rail Preservation program, including a $9 million transfer from the Rail Enhancement Fund.

DRPT’s Annual Budget for FY 2019

The annual DRPT budget for FY 2019 is $793.5 million and is based on estimates of actual outlays of federal, state, and local funding.

The breakdown:

 

$793.5 million – Total 

• $631.6 million – Public Transportation Programs
• $106.2 million – Passenger and Freight Rail Programs
• $1.3 million – Rail Industrial Access Programs
• $12.6 million – Rail Preservation Programs
• $10.8 million – Commuter Assistance Programs
• $14.6 million – Agency Operating Budget
• $4.4 million – Planning, Regulation, and Safety Programs
• $12.0 million – Human Service Transportation Programs

Appointed by the governor, the 17-member CTB establishes the administrative policies for Virginia's transportation system. The CTB allocates highway funding to specific projects, locates routes and provides funding for airports, seaports and public transportation. The board normally meets on the third Wednesday of the month in months when action meetings are scheduled.

For more information:

• FY 2019-2024 DRPT SYIP: http://www.drpt.virginia.gov/media/2464/fy19-final-syip-rev-06072018.pdf
• FY 2019 DRPT Annual Budget: http://drpt.virginia.gov/media/2462/fy19-ctb-annual-budget-final.pdf

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