An Arlington request for $8 million to support construction of a key segment of the Cross Potomac Trail has gotten the ax.
Staff from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) determined that the project does not meet the criteria for funding through the Commuter Choice initiative.
As a result, the proposal will not be included in the list of those that will vie for the next round of regional funding in coming months.
Daniel Knickelbein, the program-policy manager for NVTC, delivered the news at that body’s March 6 board of directors meeting.
Arlington officials sought funding to complete the design and then construct a multi-use trail along Long Bridge Drive. The trail would run from the terminus of the future Long Bridge Park multi-use pedestrian and bicycle bridge to the Crystal City Bike Network.
The trail also would connect to the Virginia Department of Transportation’s adjacent Boundary Channel Drive trail improvements connecting to the Mount Vernon Trail. Eventually, it would cross the Potomac River via the rebuilt Long Bridge.
“This route is expected to become a major multimodal commuter route between the I-395/I-95 corridor and both Arlington and Washington,” staff wrote late last year, asking Board members to include the project on the county government’s wish list.
County staff continued:
“Considering current and expected growth in Crystal City and Pentagon City and the intensification of residential development, additional active-transportation connections are needed. A direct link from Long Bridge Drive to the regional trail network will dramatically improve multimodal connections in the immediate vicinity and for links between the regional activity centers of Crystal City, Pentagon City, Pentagon, Potomac Yard and the regional trail network.”
But staff for the regional transportation agencies determined that the benefits of the trail would not be enough to meet the requirements of the Commuter Choice program. That effort uses tolling revenue generated on I-95 and I-395 to fund congestion-relief efforts.
Just because the proposal is not in the running for regional funds does not mean it is dead. Arlington County already has included funding to support the estimated $8.15 million cost in its capital-improvement program.
Winning regional funds, however, would have allowed the county to free up those dollars for other projects.
While its first priority was tossed out, Arlington’s second request did make it onto the list. It seeks $475,000 to provide additional rush-hour service on Arlington Transit (ART) Route 87 between Shirlington and the Pentagon.
Participating jurisdictions across Northern Virginia submitted a total of 15 projects, totaling $37.5 million. With Arlington’s $8 million proposal removed, the remaining project total is $29.5 million.
That’s within, but at the high end of, the anticipated $25 million to $30 million available toll-revenue support for the two-year period.
Should that funding come in on the low end, projects scored lowest likely would not receive funding.
“Staff are now finalizing the scoring,” Knickelbein said.
Once that is complete, the package will be sent out for public comment and, eventually, action by the NVTC and PRTC boards and final authorization by the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
