The first public comment period for the Visualize 2045 update is now underway. Now that the agencies have submitted their projects, programs, and policies for inclusion in the constrained element of the plan, the public may comment on these inputs. The comment period for the conformity projects kicked off on April 2 and will close on May 3. People who wish to submit a comment may use the online comment form, mail, voicemail, or submit a comment for the board meeting for staff to read at the beginning of the April 21 TPB meeting.
Learn more and submit a comment
What’s in the plan?
The 2022 update to Visualize 2045 will contain multiple parts. One piece, the financially constrained element, is federally required and will include all the projects, programs, and policies that are expected to be funded through 2045. The other part, also federally required, are projects that affect the transportation network capacity and emissions of certain pollutants into the air. Project types include roadways, bridges, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) and high capacity toll (HOT) operations, transit services, and some of the region’s bicycle and pedestrian projects; in general projects that can be reflected in the emissions modeling used in the analysis.
The update to Visualize 2045 will also include a rededication to equity, roadway safety, and planning for a more resilient region. It will also highlight the region’s policies and goals plus bicycle and pedestrian, freight elements, and more.
The first step is to develop the fiscally constrained element while identifying those that affect transportation capacity. The projects, programs, and policies submitted by the agencies must be evaluated to determine that funding is reasonably expected to be available and analyzed for their effect on the region’s air quality. To allow time for staff to conduct the analysis, these inputs must be submitted at this time.
This public comment period at this time is specifically focused on the reasonableness of the funding plan for the projects and their potential impact on regional air quality. The board will also consider how best the set of projects advance the board’s various policy priorities and goals as described in its various policy plans.
What are the new projects, programs, or policies?
The new submissions build on hundreds of other projects contained in long range transportation plan, Visualize 2045, that was adopted by the TPB in 2018. The public is welcome to comment on all of the projects submitted for air quality analysis, not just the new projects or the changes proposed for previously included projects.
Here is what is new or changed for the 2022 update to Visualize 2045:
In the District of Columbia, the District Department of Transportation has submitted bus only lanes along H Street NW and I Street NW. Learn more about these and other projects.
In Maryland, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has proposed changes to the express toll lane projects on I-270 and I-495 that were added to the Plan in 2018. Some changes include changing the proposed express toll lanes (where everyone paid tolls) to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes (when some pay tolls). MDOT has indicated that carpool/vanpools of three or more occupants will ride free on the HOT lanes on the I-495 and I-270. Learn more about these and other projects.
In Virginia, In Virginia, Loudoun County and the Virginia Department of Transportation is proposing a new 4-lane road, the US-50 North Collector Road, for completion in 2029. Learn more about these and other projects.
What happens next?
The public comment period runs until May 3, 2021. At the TPB’s May 19 meeting, staff will present the comments received, the responses from the agencies and the board will discuss how best the set of projects meet federal fiscal constraint requirements, comply with the roadway emissions limits established for the region while also advancing the region’s policy priorities and goals. Based on these deliberations the board will be asked to approve the projects staff would include in its air quality analysis and scope of work for this analysis at its June 16, 2021 meeting. Staff will conduct the air quality and performance analysis during the next year with the results anticipated to be shared with the public and the board in April 2022, before the board considers adoption of the updated long range transportation plan in June 2022.
Learn more and submit a comment.