Washington, D.C. – At its meeting today, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) voted unanimously to approve twelve projects for inclusion in metropolitan Washington’s long-range transportation plan.

Today’s vote was the final opportunity for projects to be included in the CLRP. Following the completion of an air quality analysis of the approved projects, the TPB will vote on the 2013 CLRP update in July.

The approved additions and changes to the 2013 update to the Constrained Long-Range Transportation Plan (CLRP) include vehicle lane reductions and bike lane projects in the District of Columbia and highway widening and ramp projects in Virginia.

Improving access to Dulles International Airport is one of the key items in the 2013 update to the CLRP. Boosting freight service at Dulles is seen as a potentially major source of economic growth for the region’s future. TPB Chairman and Loudoun County Board Chairman Scott York stressed that the proposals will support the growth of passenger and freight traffic at the international airport.

The airport access improvements triggered hundreds of comments of support and opposition from groups and individuals in the region. In response to several of these comments, the TPB agreed today to include four alternative alignments for the airport access improvements in the air quality analysis. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will select a preferred alternative before the TPB votes on the CLRP in July.