|
|
Welcome to the Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s Data Stories, and thank you for signing up! This monthly series aims to find the narrative in data DRPT collects and uses, highlighting Virginia’s rail and transit community. This past month, DRPT released its draft Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) – Virginia’s mechanism for funding rail and public transit projects across the Commonwealth. The SYIP funds individual projects and programs across all of Virginia and across all sizes and scopes – from individual state of good repair projects providing spare parts for your local bus, to major investments in operating support for the largest public transit providers. This Data Story summarizes the SYIP, what it is, how it works, and how it funds rail and transit in Virginia.
Introduction to the Six-Year Improvement Program
The Department of Rail and Public Transportation is tasked with providing State funding (and some federal funds) for programs and projects across Virginia. Through these public transit, commuter assistance, human service, and freight rail grants, DRPT’s programs ensure reliable transportation for both people and goods. The Six-Year Improvement Program allocates these grants, funding projects and programs across Virginia. The draft FY26 SYIP will grant over $1.1 billion for rail and transit across Virginia.
How the SYIP Works
The Six-Year Improvement Program is DRPT’s portfolio of grants and funded programs for each fiscal year, programming funds for individual transit and rail projects. Additionally, the SYIP projects future revenues/allocations for its programs for the upcoming six fiscal years.
The SYIP operates on a regular cycle, beginning with the opening of the grant cycle in each December preceding the new fiscal year. DRPT releases the SYIP to the public in April and presents it to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), Virginia’s state-level decision making body for transportation funding and projects. After a period of public comment and in-person hearings across Virginia, the CTB votes to approve the SYIP in June. That adopted SYIP then goes into effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year, or July 1st. Over the course of that fiscal year, DRPT distributes the funding to the selected projects, as determined by the SYIP.
So, enough about the process, let’s talk about the funding. What is included in the FY 2026 SYIP?
|
|
The Allocations
Starting with the birds-eye view, DRPT’s allocations total to over $1.1 billion in FY 26. The chart below breaks down the allocations of funding in FY26 by funding area:
 *Other Public Transportation includes Human Services/Enhanced Mobility, Commuter Assistance Programs, State Safety Oversight, and more!
The total FY 2026 allocations include all DRPT-distributed funds, including federal funds, regional funds, and pass-through allocations. The $1.1 billion in allocations is a 7.5% increase over FY 2025.
The three largest funding areas for the SYIP are WMATA, public transportation in general, and pass-through funds for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. WMATA receives the largest share of funding from DRPT, and it is easily the largest provider of public transit in Virginia, with over 79 million passengers in Virginia in Calendar Year 2024 alone. Public transportation receives the next largest share, and includes a mix of funding from state programs, federal funds, and regional sources. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority receives pass-through funds from DRPT to promote, sustain, and enhance passenger rail in Virginia.
The next three areas of funding are other public transit programs, DRPT’s rail programs, and funding for the Virginia Railway Express. Other public transit programs include a wide range of transit grants, including human service transportation, commuter programs, and more. DRPT’s rail funding includes statewide rail planning, the FREIGHT program, and the Rail Preservation Fund. The Virginia Railway Express, Virginia’s only commuter rail, receives dedicated operating and capital funding from DRPT, and rounds out DRPT’s allocations.
|
|
Taking a closer look at DRPT’s public transportation funding, which includes WMATA funding, VRE funding, and all of DRPT’s funding programs (both the larger programs and the other programs from the pie chart above). The draft FY 26 SYIP allocates nearly $860 million to public transit projects across Virginia. This total includes state funds from, as well as DRPT-managed federal funds, and regional transit funds and grants administered by DRPT. The table below shows more specific funding allocations, along with a description of each allocation:
Funding Allocation Area
|
FY26 allocation ($ in millions)
|
Description
|
State Operating Assistance
|
|
Provides Virginia's share of operating funding for transit providers through the MERIT Program, except for WMATA and VRE. Funded by the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund. This total includes some HOT-Lane funds.
|
|
|
|
Provides Virginia's match for capital projects, ranging from purchasing spare parts, to buying new bus fleets. State Capital Assistance is primarily focused on state of good repair projects. Funded by the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund and allocated through the MERIT Program as well.
|
Virginia WMATA Contributions
|
|
Virginia provides operating and capital funding for WMATA (or Metro) with a share of the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund, a dedicated capital/state of good repair allocation, and $50M a year to match federal PRIIA funds.
|
| VRE |
$17.4 |
DRPT provides up to 3.5% of the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund to VRE for operating and capital Purposes. VRE receives other federal, regional, and local funds for its operations.
|
Special Funds and Programs, and Commuter Assistance
|
|
|
Transit Ridership Incentive Program
|
|
The Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) provides funds for regional connectivity, zero or reduced fare, public safety, and passenger amenity programs. Funded through the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund.
|
Federal Funds and Federal Programs
|
|
DRPT administers a mix of Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration funds, both formula and grants. Larger transit providers receive FTA formula funds directly from the FTA, and not through DRPT.
|
|
|
|
Includes a mix of other state and local revenues.
|
|
|
|
DRPT redirects express lane funds from I-95 and I-66 express lanes to the Commuter Choice program.
|
|
|
|
|
 DRPT is tasked with allocating grants through the Commonwealth Rail Fund to improve, maintain, or expand Virginia’s freight rail network. Additionally, DRPT’s share of the Commonwealth Rail Fund supports statewide rail planning, which includes developing the Virginia Statewide Rail Plan, providing technical assistance to grant applicants in applying for grants, and conducting studies and planning that guide the future of Virginia’s freight and passenger rail network. Additionally, DRPT is responsible for pass-through funds for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), which takes DRPT’s passenger rail plans and turns those plans into reality. All these funds are programmed in DRPT’s SYIP. The table below visualizes the FY26 Rail SYIP, with a description of what each funding area is:
Rail Funding Area
|
FY26 Allocation ($ in Millions)
|
Description
|
Planning and FREIGHT Program
|
|
Rail planning conducts statewide rail planning, provides technical assistance to grant applicants, and produces the statewide rail plan. The FREIGHT Program is a DRPT grant for projects that improve the capacity and functionality of Virginia's freight rail network. Funded from the Commonwealth Rail Fund and federal grants.
|
Rail Preservation Program
|
|
The Rail Preservation (Shortline) Program provides grants for shortline railroads, nine of which operate in Virginia. These grants ensure a baseline state of good repair for the shortline network, providing reliable last-mile movement of goods to businesses. Funded by the Commonwealth Rail Fund and a transfer from the VDOT Highway Construction Fund.
|
Total DRPT Rail Allocation
|
|
|
VPRA Transforming Rail in Virginia
|
|
DRPT provides pass-through funding for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority for their efforts to expand and improve passenger rail in Virginia. These funds come from VPRA's share of the Commonwealth Rail Fund, but also include other state funding sources.
|
|
|
|
|
Over the next six fiscal years (FY 26 to FY 31) cumulative total transit allocations exceed $5.2 billion for public transit. The table below is the projection of DRPT’s funding allocations for the next six fiscal years:
|
Funding Allocation Area
|
FY26
|
FY27
|
FY28
|
FY29
|
FY30
|
FY31
|
Six-Year Sum
|
State Operating Assistance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virginia WMATA Contributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Special Funds and Programs, and Commuter Assistance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transit Ridership Incentive Program
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal Funds and Federal Programs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: $ in millions. Most funds are not committed, but rather projections of future allocations.
|
|
|
|
The SYIP Data Portal
This Data Story covers the high-level look at the Six-Year Improvement Program. The actual SYIP provides so much more information and is easily accessible on DRPT’s Open Data Portal. DRPT’s interactive SYIP feature allows users to look at rail and transit projects funded in the SYIP, filtering by transit provider or railroad, grant program/funding opportunity, geographic district, and so much more. This is the best way to look at the individual projects funded in your area and see what exciting new projects are happening across Virginia. To go to the Open Data Portal and use the SYIP visualizer, click here or at the image below:
|
|
Big Plans, Smart Spending: Inside the SYIP
The Six-Year Improvement Program provides State funding for Virginia’s transit providers, railroads, commuter programs, and more! The SYIP helps turn DRPT’s mission of creating a positive impact on the Commonwealth into a reality, while ensuring that the public’s resources are in good hands. The Six-Year Improvement Program is designed to benefit the public, and as a result, accepts public comment every year. If you were unable to make it to one of the nine in-person hearings, you can submit public comment to drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov.
|
|
 DRPT’s mission is to connect and improve the quality of life for all Virginians with innovative transportation solutions. The SYIP turns that mission into action, by funding rail and public transportation priorities. With funding from the SYIP, transit agencies across Virginia provide over 10 million trips per month on buses, light rails, and subways. Freight rail programs divert around 14 million trucks from Virginia’s roads and attract hundreds of new jobs. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Follow Us
|
|
|
|
|
