Fairfax County’s plan to finance a nearly billion-dollar bus rapid transit (BRT) network along Richmond Highway is about to get another boost.
In June, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) is expected to support an additional $10 million in funding for the project. It would be the second installment in a $20 million promise to help the county finance the new bus system.
The commission’s board of directors was briefed on the package at their May 1 meeting.
The funding is part of a $39.5 million package of 15 projects recommended for approval by NVTC staff for fiscal years 2026-2027. The Commuter Choice program uses some toll revenue from the I-395/I-95 Express Lanes to fund projects designed to expand transit and other travel options in the corridor.
When complete, the Richmond Highway BRT line, known as The One, will include nine stations and span seven miles. The buses will operate in new median lanes along Route 1, running from the Huntington Metro station south to Fort Belvoir.
The anticipated NVTC funding will support a project currently estimated to cost $979 million. To date, the project has secured $434 million in federal funding, $340 million in regional funds, $62 million in state funds and $27 million in county dollars.
About $116 million remains unfunded, and will need to be identified by late 2027 for the project to remain on track, according to Fairfax County staff.
Other projects impacting Fairfax County that are in the fiscal years 2026-2027 I-95/I-395 Commuter Choice package:
- $2,357,200 for a new Metrobus line — Route A29 — connecting the Van Dorn Street Metro station with Metro Center in downtown D.C. by way of Beauregard Street, Mark Center, Southern Towers and Shirlington during rush hour. The new line will eliminate the need for transit riders in the corridor to transfer at the Pentagon to get into D.C.
- $2,128,807 to enhance Fairfax Connector routes 321 and 322, the Greater Springfield Circulator, dropping the time between buses from 30 minutes to 20 minutes
- $2,142,197 to continue Fairfax Connector Route 371, which connects the Lorton park-and-ride lot, the Lorton Virginia Railway Express station and the Franconia-Springfield Metro station on a 15-minute cycle
- $1,958,641 to continue Fairfax Connector Route 396, which operates between the Backlick North park-and-ride lot and Pentagon via I-95/395 Express Lanes during rush hour
The NVTC and Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commission will be asked to formally approve the package at their June 5 meetings, sending it to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for final action.
The next round of Commuter Choice funding will open in the fall with a call for proposals from local governments and transit agencies.
“We anticipate that future funding rounds will be highly competitive,” said Andrew D’huyvetter, NVTC’s director of programs and policy.
The spelling of Andrew D’huyvetter’s name and NVTC in the final sentence have been corrected.
