Local meeting set for state transportation plan – Fredericksburg.com

The Commonwealth Transportation Board is hosting a string of meetings across the state while it is updating the fiscal 2025–2030 Six-Year Improvement Plan, which covers funding for roads, rails and public transportation.

The local SYIP meeting is scheduled to be held Thursday at the Virginia Department of Transportation’s auditorium at 86 Deacon Road. The meeting starts at 4 p.m.

Transportation officials will be on hand at the meeting to discuss projects and issues in the state and locally while also getting feedback from residents. Information on projects in the SYIP draft also will be available.

Comments from the public will be accepted during the meeting. There are other ways to comment, including online. More information can be found on the CTB website.

The SYIP draft includes state and federal funding for projects across the state.

There are more than a dozen projects or initiatives on the list for VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District. Various Spotsylvania and Stafford county projects are on the list for funding.

• $16.54 million for work at the U.S. 17, Cosner Drive and Overview Drive intersection.
• Harrison Road widening phase one, $8.63 million.
• Harrison Road widening phase two, $31.42 million.
• Route 620 reconstruction: $12.30 million.
• Germanna Point Drive extension: $59.02 million.
• Trench widening along Route 3: $5.10 million.

• Garrisonville Road widening: $77.92 million.
• Onville Road improvements: $23.30 million.

There also are millions set aside to support road paving across the district.

Several local projects, or issues, are important to the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

One issue the FAMPO Policy Committee will stress to state officials is a study investigating improvements to U.S. 1 traffic flow “as an alternative for I-95 emergencies,” according to a slide presented during the April 15 policy committee meeting.

Two other key issues are adding lanes on I-95 between the State Route 3 exit in Fredericksburg and the Massaponax exit in Spotsylvania, which FAMPO considers “paramount for congestion mitigation and regional accessibility.”

Another local project important to FAMPO is the construction of a tunnel under I-95 for the expansion of the Virginia Central Railway trail.

The FAMPO Policy Committee also decided to stress a requested change to the state’s Smart Scale program, which rates and scores projects for funding. FAMPO previously asked for the change—creation of a new tier for localities to fix an issue that has hampered the district—but the CTB declined.

Also, FAMPO will renew its interest in having State Route 3 added to the list of Corridors of Statewide significance. FAMPO previously asked for the designation but hasn’t gotten a response.