Alexandria is seeking more than $36 million to fund two transportation projects as part of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority‘s six-year program.
The total funding amount in NVTA’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Six Year Program is $1.265 billion. Alexandria’s share includes $15 million for bus rapid transit improvements in the second phase of the Duke Street Transitway, and $21.86 million for pedestrian and bicycle improvements at Eisenhower Avenue and S. Van Dorn Street. NVTA adopts its six-year program every two years, allocating regional tax revenues to multimodal transportation projects.
NVTA will hold a public hearing May 14 on the two Alexandria proposals, along with 25 other projects throughout the region. Alexandria’s requests represent 3% of the total NVTA funds sought by localities.
“Eight Northern Virginia jurisdictions submitted project applications requesting regional funding from NVTA,” the authority said in a release. “The $1.265 billion funding request spans varying transportation modes including bus transit, rail, roadway enhancements, technology, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and intersection/interchange improvements.”
The Duke Street Transitway funds would support the second phase of the Bus Rapid Transit project through improvements near the Duke Street and Van Dorn Street intersection close to the Landmark Mall redevelopment site. Proposed improvements include reconstructing interchange ramps east of Van Dorn Street, installing a missing sidewalk segment on Duke Street under the Van Dorn Street overpass and providing a dedicated transit lane and new signal from westbound Duke Street to Van Dorn Street.
To date, NVTA has awarded Alexandria $87 million for the planning, design and construction of the Duke Street Transitway, which will provide dedicated transit lanes on Duke Street for bus rapid transit between the King Street-Old Town Metro station and the city’s border with Fairfax County near the former Landmark Mall site. The final design for the project is expected next year, with construction planned to wrap up in 2029.
The city’s Eisenhower Avenue and S. Van Dorn Street project seeks to improve conditions for all road users and support the future West End Transitway Bus Rapid Transit system. Proposed improvements include installing a missing sidewalk connecting the Van Dorn Street Metro station to the West End Transitway and other bus connections, adding a two-way cycle track connecting to a shared-use path, rerouting left turns from the Eisenhower Avenue and S. Van Dorn Street intersection to Metro Road, and adding bus boarding platforms and new pedestrian crossings.
Separately, the city has already secured NVTA funds for the Van Dorn Street and Bridges Design Project and is seeking public feedback on concepts to add new pedestrian and bicycle improvements. The city has set an April 16 deadline for comments.
Comments on the proposals can be submitted online. The May 14 meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at NVTA’s Vienna office (2600 Park Tower Drive). NVTA is expected to adopt its FY2026-2031 Six Year Program at its meeting on July 9.
Image 2 via City of Alexandria
