We can use transportation dollars to invest in our cities, towns and neighborhoods—making them great places to live. To do so, we need to offer first-class transit options, improve local road networks, and enhance east-west routes to solve Northern VA’s commuter gridlock. Or, we can waste our funds on new highways that ignore existing traffic problems, spread sprawl, and ultimately put more cars on the road. Read More

Virginia has choices to make. We can use our transportation dollars to invest in our cities, town and neighborhoods, making them great places to live and work. To do this, we need to offer first-class transit options, improve local road networks, and open up east-west routes to solve Northern Virginia’s commuter gridlock. Or, we can squander funds on new highways that ignore existing traffic problems, spread sprawl, and ultimately put more cars on the road. PEC thinks that the McDonnell Administration’s transportation priorities—including the Outer Beltway and the Charlottesville Western Bypass—are taking us in the wrong direction. We need to use our transportation funding to build better communities, not bigger highways. Read More

In June 2011, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors shocked constituents by holding an unpublicized, late-night vote to resurrect the Route 29 Western Bypass, northwest of Charlottesville. Since then, VDOT—under pressure from political interests in Lynchburg and the McDonnell administration—has put the Bypass on the construction fast-track. While communities north of Charlottesville may think this bypass is only a local issue, there are compelling reasons for Virginians everywhere to pay attention—and it’s not just the quarterbillion dollar price-tag. Big picture: this bypass is part of VDOT’s vision to transform Rt. 29 into a Central Virginia Interstate; acting as an alternative to I-81 and I-95. This is not only a bad idea, it’s not feasible without a massive right-of-way acquisition and billions of dollars in funding. Read More