At its monthly meeting, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) approved a major update to Visualize 2045, the region’s federally-mandated, long-range transportation plan. Approval of the update, completed every four years, demonstrates that the projects in the plan collectively meet ozone air quality standards, can reasonably be expected to be funded, and satisfy other federal requirements.

The multimodal plan consists of highway and transit projects totaling $233 billion that the region expects to fund through 2045. For example, Visualize 2045 includes the Long Bridge project, which would result in a four-track crossing of the Potomac River with a bicycle and pedestrian path that would double long-term capacity for freight and passenger rail and expand cycling and walking options. The plan also includes HOT (high-occupancy toll) lanes for construction on the northern and southern segments of the I-270/I-495, known as the Op Lanes project in Maryland, which would rebuild the American Legion Bridge and connect with the Virginia Express lanes. Through 2045, most future revenues (81 percent) will be devoted to the operations and maintenance of the transportation system, while the rest will be devoted to highway and transit expansion.

“Visualize 2045 reflects a transportation network—and the planning process behind it—continually evolving to meet our region’s needs and priorities,” said TPB Chair and City of Manassas Vice Mayor Pamela Sebesky. “This year’s update highlights ongoing progress to expand travel choices, consider how our investments advance equity and opportunity, and take steps to include climate goals and strategies into our planning.”

Visualize 2045 features a set of Aspirational Initiatives that have been endorsed by the board for their potential to address some of the region’s biggest transportation challenges. The initiatives include bringing jobs and housing closer together through transportation, improving walking and biking access to transit, and expanding bus rapid transit (BRT) and transitways. Examples of projects in the plan implementing bus rapid transit and transitways include the K Street Transitway in the District of Columbia, Flash BRT in Montgomery County, and the One and Crystal City Transitway BRT in Northern Virginia. According to the plan, with additional projects planned for BRT and rail expansion, more than one-half of jobs and one-quarter of residents will be close to High-Capacity Transit Station Areas and 67 percent of jobs and 35 percent of residents will be in Activity Centers, the region’s priority areas for growth, by 2045.

Following the approval of the plan update, the board endorsed a set of transportation sector-specific greenhouse gas reduction goals and strategies to support the region’s overarching and non-sector-specific greenhouse gas reduction goals. The TPB’s new regional, voluntary, on-road transportation sector-specific goals call for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. The goals will be part of the Visualize 2045 plan’s policies moving forward.

This action was informed by a comprehensive, yearlong climate study by the TPB as well as public input during the development of the plan update, which found that 84 percent of individuals surveyed were concerned about climate change and wanted transportation officials to consider it as they plan for the future.

The Visualize 2045 update was a multi-year effort with a robust outreach campaign, including participation by more than 2,400 people in a public opinion survey as well as 11 virtual focus groups. The public input revealed strong support for TPB policies and priorities, such as expanding transit options, making it easier for people to walk and bike, and encouraging telework. For example, 71 percent of survey respondents said they would like to see more dedicated bus lanes and 54 percent want bus lanes even if it removes a lane of parking.

The projects and programs that go into Visualize 2045 are developed cooperatively by governmental bodies and agencies represented on the TPB.
 

MORE: Visualize 2045 website