In Northern Virginia, over 5,000 miles of planned bike and pedestrian infrastructure remain unfunded—at a projected cost of $9 to $30 billion. That staggering shortfall underscores a simple question: Shouldn’t we be doing more to build a better, safer, more connected transportation network?
FABB believes the answer is an emphatic yes!
That’s why last month we joined eight other regional and statewide organizations to send a joint letter to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) urging a more ambitious and comprehensive approach to its current study on how to fund bike and pedestrian projects across the region. The study follows a 2025 request by Virginia General Assembly Transportation Committee chairs, who asked NVTA to review the findings of VDOT’s 2024 Northern Virginia Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Study.
FABB and Allies Push for Bolder Vision
FABB was proud to join the following advocacy organizations in the letter:
- Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA)
- Active Prince William
- Coalition for Smarter Growth
- Alexandria Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- Virginia Bicycling Federation
- Bike Loudoun
- Bike Falls Church
- Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County
Together, we expressed appreciation for NVTA’s engagement with advocates—but we also noted serious concerns with the limited scope of the current study. The draft approach focuses almost entirely on expanding local funding sources, which—even if maximized—fall far short of the need.
Instead, the letter called for a broader and bolder study that explores:
- Regional, state, and federal funding options, including policies like a regional parking tax.
- Changes to existing programs like SMART SCALE and HSIP to prioritize active transportation.
- Better integration of biking and walking into all transportation projects—not just stand-alone facilities.
- Improved use of VDOT’s resurfacing program for quick-build, cost-effective improvements.
- Regional tracking mechanisms to monitor progress and identify gaps in real time.
Why This Matters
Without a bold new approach, Northern Virginia will struggle to make meaningful progress on goals like reducing traffic deaths, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and expanding transportation access for all. A fragmented, underfunded system will remain just that—a patchwork of missed opportunities and unmet needs.
But if NVTA and other regional leaders seize this moment, they can help shift the region’s transportation future in the right direction.
Let’s Build the Future Fairfax Deserves
FABB is proud to be part of this united front for safer, more sustainable transportation. But we can’t do it alone.
If you believe in a future where biking and walking are real options for everyone in Northern Virginia, help us advocate for it:
- Contact your local and state elected officials.
- Volunteer with FABB and support our advocacy.
Let’s not wait decades to build what our region needs now. Let’s speak up—and ride forward—together. Contact FABB at [email protected].
