Regional leaders start eyeing financing and operational questions for new Alexandria-Tysons bus-rapid transit

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) is starting to look at financing for an extensive transportation project connecting Alexandria and Tysons.

The Envision Route 7 BRT project aims to bring a high-capacity transit service running from Tysons to Mark center in Alexandria, with stops at Seven Corners, Falls Church and the East Falls Church Metro station. The project is currently undergoing a mobility study looking over traffic operations and impact, with a particular eye toward the Falls Church segment.

At a meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 3, the is scheduled to look over next steps for the Envision Route 7 BRT project. A report to the NVTC laid out a timeline ahead for the project. Traffic modeling and simulation is planned to continue through the summer with public meetings and outreach for the project starting this fall.

NVTC staff are also working on identifying key funding, governance and operational decisions ahead for the project, the report said.

The effort is proposed to be jointly funded by Fairfax County and NVTC and will focus on the following elements:

• Develop a strategic framework that will serve as a guide for NVTC staff and the
  Commission in the implementation of the BRT project.
• Identify and prioritize the key funding sources for each stage of the BRT project and the
  applicable timeline for each funding source.
• Develop an interjurisdictional governance approach to guide the planning,
  implementation, and operation of the BRT project.

The report said that proposals for consulting on the project are likely to come back to the NVTC at the meeting in May.