The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) awarded over $240,000 in technical assistance funding to three local projects that could make it easier to bike and walk to transit.

The projects are the first funded under the TPB’s new Transit Within Reach Program, which provides consultant services for design and preliminary engineering for projects to help improve residents’ access to transit.

“As our region grows, it will be important to optimize the areas around Metrorail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit, and other high-capacity transit station areas,” said TPB Vice Chair and City of Manassas Vice Mayor Pamela Sebesky. “A critical piece of this work is ensuring residents have safe and easy access to this essential service.”

Funded projects:

Preliminary Design for a new shared-use path connection to Broad Run
$74,000
City of Manassas
This project will develop the preliminary design for a new shared-use path connection to the Broad Run VRE Station, providing the last missing link for a safe and direct bicycle and pedestrian access from the city to the expansion of the Broad Run Station.

Preliminary Engineering of the Walter Johnson Road Shared-use Path Connection to the Germantown MARC Station
$85,000
Montgomery County
This project will complete the preliminary design for a new shared-use path that gives people walking and biking from nearby residential and commercial areas a consistent, comfortable, and direct connection to the Germantown MARC station.

Suitland-Silver Hill Neighborhood Pedestrian and Bike Access Improvement Project
$85,000
Prince George’s County
This project will contribute to designs for safe pedestrian and bicycle facilities and traffic calming features to connect the neighborhood along Navy Day Drive, Navy Day Place, and Glenn Drive to the Suitland Metro Station.

The region is expected to have 225 High-Capacity Transit Stations in place by 2030, but many of the areas around these stations are not conducive to walking and biking. The Transit Within Reach program was established in 2021 to help address this and advance the TPB’s priority to improve walk and bike access to transit, one of its Aspirational Initiatives.

MORE:
Transit Within Reach Program Funded Projects
About the Transit Within Reach Program