Virginia Advocacy on Transportation

Examples of the Chamber’s advocacy in Virginia on issues related to transportation include:
The Arlington Chamber supports the overall design of the 2025 Better Bus Network, but asked WMATA to retain the 3Y bus service, or create a comparable service along Langston Boulevard. 
The Arlington Chamber joined a coalition as part of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, supporting the Southside Express Lanes project before the Transportation Planning Board. The Arlington Chamber joined a coalition of business organizations endorsing the appointment of Jason Stanford, President of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, to serve on the technical working group to study Northern Virginia Transit, as a representative of the business community. The Arlington Chamber of Commerce joined a coalition of businesses and business organizations supporting a regional multimodal transportation network to serve Northern Virginia's economy. ​​The Arlington Chamber joined forces with other Chambers and business groups, under the Northern Virginia Transportation Business Coalition, to address solutions to WMATA’s short term and long-term sustainability. The recommendations include evaluating WMATA true financial need, identifying Virginia’s current share of a WMATA subsidy credit, resetting operating subsidies once cost savings and internal WMATA reforms have been identified, splitting the shortfall in funds between states and localities, and creating an independent regional commission to evaluate WMATA’s costs and reforms. The Arlington Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) application to the Commuter Choice grant program for its Crystal City Station project. The Crystal City station project has the potential to improve the transportation landscape in our community by offering a new option for commuters and increasing the capacity of the existing VRE system, the busiest in Virginia. There is currently more than $4 billion of investment planned or underway in transportation improvements within National Landing to support this strategy. VRE has already secured most of the $68.9 million cost for the station project, but requiring additional funding. We urge the NVTC to approve this grant request. The Arlington Chamber signed with other Chambers and businesses organizations to a letter from the Washington Region Transportation Coalition, formerly the Northern Virginia Transportation Coalition concerning WMATA’s proposed FY 2024 Budget. The letter supports much of the proposed budget for WMATA but urges the Authority leadership to take greater action to ensure sustainably funded operations in future years. The Chamber believes that a reliable and sustainable transportation system is vital to Arlington’s economy and to its residents. The Chamber supports the proposed service increases, especially to the Orange and Yellow lines, and is in support of the Coalition’s emphasis on more regional cooperation in addressing Metrorail and Metrobus issues. The Arlington Chamber signed onto a letter with other Chambers and businesses organizations in support of the Washington Region Transportation Coalition, formerly the Northern Virginia Transportation Coalition. The Chamber believes that a well planned regional and multimodal transportation network is a key element of our future economic competitiveness and our quality of life. The Coalition urges regional elected officials to continue investing in an “all-of-the-above” strategy for transportation, addressing our challenges by committing to not just roadways, but also Metrorail, commuter rail, bus, bicycle, and pedestrian networks. The Arlington Chamber supports the proposed collaboration between the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) and the Maryland Transportation Authority to bring through-running MARC train service from Maryland to Northern Virginia. This service would dramatically increase the number of workers who could commute to Arlington within 60 minutes. The Chamber urges the VPRA to work with their Maryland counterparts to bring this to fruition. ​The Arlington Chamber joined a coalition of businesses and organizations from across Northern Virginia in supporting the Northern Virginia TransAction long-range Transportation Plan. The TransAction plan includes 429 regional multimodal transportation projects for the next 25 years. These projects will help the region accommodate the substantial economic and population growth projected for the next 25 years.  The Chamber encouraged the US Department of Transportation to grant $300 million to expand rail capacity over Long Bridge. When complete, this project will grow the existing two-track bridge into a four-track corridor providing additional long-term capacity for the growing intercity passenger rail and commuter rail services between the Northeast Corridor, Virginia, and points south in North Carolina and beyond. The Chamber urged NVTA and NVTC to fully grant Arlington’s request for funding for a second entrance to the Ballston Metro. Adding another entrance at North Fairfax Drive and North Vermont Street will improve access around Glebe Road and be a huge boost to the restaurants and other customer-facing businesses on that side of Ballston. ​​The Arlington Chamber joined a coalition of businesses and organization from across Northern Virginia in strongly opposing the proposed suspension of the Commonwealth’s gasoline tax and the proposed permanent 2% cap on its annual indexing for inflation. The gasoline tax is one of the top three dedicated sources of Virginia transportation funding. Making such a significant cut to state transportation revenue would have long-term consequences for our transportation network, making it harder for people to access jobs, products, and services. The Chamber, along with other businesses and organizations from across Northern Virginia, supported  the 2022 priorities of the coalition, emphasizing the importance of transportation in the region. A regional multimodal transportation network remains key to our future economic and workforce competitiveness, quality of life, environmental sustainability, and equitable access to opportunity.  The Chamber joined with business and community groups from across the region in encouraging the federal and Maryland governments not to extend the comment period for the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement of the 495 Express Lane project to ensure that the project can proceed in a timely fashion. The Chamber encourages the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) to design its TransAction Plan to prioritize projects that will support development and connections throughout the region. The Chamber supports continuing investments to build on recent commitments and projects to help connect people from across our region to employment and other economic centers. As one of the most highly used Metrorail stations in Arlington, the new entrance to the Crystal City station will help accommodate the anticipated increase in trips to National Landing as development in the area continues. This new second entrance will provide more direct access than the existing entrance to offices, shops, and residences along Crystal Drive. The entrance also will offer a more direct connection to the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Metroway bus rapid transit network. ​The Chamber expressed support for including the Maryland Traffic Relief Plan to extend the 495 Express Lanes across a rebuilt American Legion Bridge in the Transportation Planning Board’s long-range plan. Significant improvements to existing roadway infrastructure and transit systems are essential to accommodate projected growing traffic patterns in the Nation Capital Region. The Traffic Relief Plan is expected to relieve existing congestion, improve transit options, and reduce emissions through incentives HOV and transit travel.  It is also anticipated to have improve regional equity by increasing connectivity for all National Capital Region residents to access jobs and other opportunities throughout the region.  The Chamber supports converting the current elevated Richmond Highway, U.S. 1 to an at-grade urban boulevard following concept recommended by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The current elevated highway design creates a barrier between the parts of National Landing located east and west of Richmond Highway. An urban boulevard will act as a true community center that engages residents, workers, and visitors in National Landing. The Chamber also encourage VDOT to broaden the project’s scope, implementing best practices and building infrastructure for all modes of transportation, which will help to address concerns raised in the community. ​The Chamber encouraged the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board to include cross-river rail service as part of its Visualize 2045 transportation plan. Cross-river rail service open the opportunity for more seamless connections between Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland.  Business Groups from across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia joined together to encourage that the Maryland Department of Transportation move forward with its Traffic Relief Plan, which includes replacing the American Legion Bridge and congestion improvements in the I-495/I-270 corridor. This public-private partnership will expand capacity and reduce congestion across the region. The Chamber joined with 23 other organizations from across Northern Virginia to advocate to the General Assembly for key multimodal transportation projects, restoration of Northern Virginia Transportation Authority funding, congestion management, sustained Metro funding, and transportation demand management. The Chamber encouraged WMATA to reconsider its plan to reduce bus services by 50% and close at 9:00 p.m. starting in January 2022. Though this plan is a part of the closing of its projected budget gap, the Chamber believes that the reduction would inhibit the recovery of workplaces reopening and create inequitable consequences for people whose jobs do not permit telework. Most prominently, the proposed service reductions would fall hardest on our region's service sector workforce.  The Chamber wrote a letter of support encouraging WMATA to name the new Metrorail station "Potomac Yard - VT". The name reflects the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and continues the tradition of including university names in nearby Metrorail stations.  The Chamber wrote a letter of support to the VDOT Northern Virginia District Office in regard to the 495 NEXT project that proposes a plan to extend the 495 Express Lanes from their current terminus north to the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Expanding the lanes will improve travel for all modes on and connecting to the Capital Beltway.   The Chamber encourages the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority not to make the proposed reductions in service starting in December. Reducing service could lead to further economic consequences, the impacts of which are likely to be felt most strongly by people who can least afford them. Maintaining the current service levels is essential to help riders feel comfortable that they can socially distance on Metro services.  The Chamber sent a letter to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority supporting the projects in Arlington under consideration for funding in the Authority’s Fiscal Year 2020-2025 Six Year Program. These projects, including Rosslyn multimodal network improvements, a new VRE Station and airport connection in Crystal City, a second Metro entrance in Ballston, and connector trail alongside Arlington National Cemetery will support development in Arlington and connections with the region. The Arlington Chamber joined area chambers and other business organizations in calling on the General Assembly to HB 729, providing $70 million in additional funding to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, restoring the funding that was diverted from the NVTA in 2018 which delayed key transportation projects across the region.
  • Chamber Supports Governor Northam's Transportation Package January 30, 2020
          Letter to the House Finance Committee, January 30, 2020
          Letter to the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee, January 30, 2020
The Chamber encouraged the Virginia General Assembly to support HB 1414 and SB 890, bills which would implement Governor Northam's transportation package. The package includes critical infrastructure projects such as a new Long Bridge and improvements to the Rosslyn Metro station. The improved connectivity across our region will help Virginia to remain and economic leader in the decade to come. The Chamber sent a letter to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission encouraging it to adopt the Commission’s proposed work plan for 2020-2021. The NVTC works to increase capacity, accessibility, connectivity, and safety of our regional transit network by maximizing and broadening transit revenues, and engaging with the community to make the system as effective as possible for commuters. We particularly appreciate the work plan’s inclusion of engagement with chambers of commerce and look forward to continuing to collaborate with the NVTC. The Chamber sent a letter to the County Board requesting that they defer a request to advertise public hearings on modifications of bonus density and height provisions. While the first review of the proposal indicates that it includes many positive changes, particularly those related to housing affordability, we believe that the best result will come from taking some extra time to study the potential impact of the amendments. As a result, the Chamber has requested a month’s deferral in consideration.  The Chamber sent a letter to WMATA encouraging the transit authority to advance plans for second entrances and the Ballston-MU and Crystal City Metrorail stations. These second entrances will aid economic development as planned growth in both neighborhoods is closer to the proposed entrance locations than to the existing portals. Having these access points will make it easier for workers and residents to get to Metro and will help them see Metrorail as the most convenient way of to and from these locations.​ The Arlington Chamber joined area chambers and other business organizations in calling on lawmakers to provide $154 million in annual capital funding for Metro's needs, along with achievable reform measures to ensure Virginia’s quality of life and continued economic growth are preserved for years to come through a fully funded, well-governed, and efficiently operated Metro system. The Arlington Chamber, joined by the Virginia Chamber and local chambers, sent a letter to Governor Ralph Northam, Speaker Kirk Cox, and Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment, calling on the lawmakers to identify a funding package for Metro, paired with reforms, during the 2018 General Assembly session, in order to ensure a well-governed, efficiently operated Metro system for years to come. The Arlington Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-Va.), urging him to sign into law H.B. 1960, which would prevent the local government from imposing the burdensome and costly second authorization towing requirement on businesses. The Chamber commended the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for funding the Crystal City Streets/12th Street Transit Way, as well as the Lee Highway Corrider ITS Enhancements.​ The Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), strongly encourage a more multi-modal funding balance of highway and transit projects. The Chamber co-signed a letter to the Northern Virginia Delegation supporting Budget Item 438D, which provides a one-time investment of $50 million over two years to improve the competitiveness of Dulles International Airport.  The Chamber, along with other members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, sent a letter to the Secretary of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) expressing general support for the Transform66: Inside the Beltway plan to reduce the traffic congestion inside the Capital Beltway. In the letter, the Chamber commends VDOT’s decision to explore alternate means of reducing congestion of Interstate 66 before widening. The Chamber sent a letter to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, expressing support for the yearlong project selection process and the current project list of proposed transportation improvements.  The Arlington Chamber of Commerce encourages the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority not to make the proposed reductions in service starting in December. Reducing service could lead to further economic consequences, the impacts of which are likely to be felt most strongly by people who can least afford them.  regional multimodal transportation network remains key to our future economic and workforce competitiveness, quality of life, environmental sustainability, and equitable access to opportunity