Vision Mobility Beyond Boundaries...
"Northern Virginia is the most congested region in Virginia, and it is projected to continue to grow both in population and employment," said Governor McDonnell. "Anecdotal information indicates that some people now make daily commutes of 100 miles each way or more to get to their jobs. To truly address congestion in Northern Virginia, we have to take a broader view of what constitutes the region and the commuting patterns of its workforce. We must develop a geographically broader vision and plan for transit and TDMs that do not stop at local or state political borders."
The Plan
Recognizing the transportation challenges faced by Northern Virginia and its commuting communities, the Commonwealth of Virginia embarked on an ambitious effort to develop a Transit and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) vision for the Super NoVa region. The Super NoVa Transit & TDM Vision Plan development process kicked off in fall 2011 and was completed in the fall 2012. DRPT initiated this study to look beyond traditional local, regional and state boundaries in terms of transit and TDM operations and planning. The final plan presents a regionally coordinated and comprehensive transit and TDM vision supporting increased mobility and greater transportation choice in the greater Northern Virginia region. The Vision Plan development process considered the mobility needs of the super region today as well as its future needs based on anticipated development patterns, population and employment growth, and travel demand.
Public and stakeholder involvement was a significant component of the planning process. Public agencies, special interest groups, and citizens were engaged through participatory workshops during the planning process. Meetings with the public, interest groups, and agencies coincided with project milestones and decision points during the planning process. In addition to meetings, opportunities for input were offered through social media (Facebook and Twitter), online questionnaires, and this project website.
If you would like to continue following the next steps of this study since its completion in fall 2012, please contact the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) or visit the Super NoVa web page on DRPT's website: http://drpt.virginia.gov/activities/supernovatransitstudy.aspx