NVTA

Who We Are

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is a regional transportation organization committed to planning, prioritizing and funding multimodal projects that reduce congestion and enhance connectivity. We develop Northern Virginia’s long-range transportation plan and invest in projects that improve mobility and provide travel options. 

Our Members

  • The Chairs and Mayors of the nine NoVA jurisdictions, or their designee
  • One chief elected official from NoVA's five largest towns
  • Three members of the Virginia General Assembly
  • Two gubernatorial appointees, including one NoVA Commonwealth Transportation Board representative
  • The Commissioner of Highways and the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), or their designee
Map of Northern Virginia Counties

Authority Members

Chair

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Hon. Phyllis Randall

Chair, Loudoun County

Vice Chair

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Hon. David Snyder

Council Member, City of Falls Church

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Hon. Jennifer Boysko

Virginia Senate

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Hon. Linda Colbert

Mayor, Town of Vienna

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Bill Cuttler, P. E.

Northern Virginia District Engineer, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

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Hon. Michelle Davis-Younger

Mayor, City of Manassas

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Hon. Karrie Delaney

Virginia Speaker of the House Appointee

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Hon. Matt de Ferranti ​

Board Member, Arlington County

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Hon. Alyia Gaskins

Mayor, City of Alexandria

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DJ Gribbin

Governor’s Appointee, Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) Member

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Hon. Deshundra Jefferson

Chair, Prince William County

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Hon. Jeffrey C. McKay

Chairman, Fairfax County

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Hon. Alanna Mensing

Mayor, City of Manassas Park

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Hon. Catherine S. Read

Mayor, City of Fairfax

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Tiffany Robinson

Director, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)

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Hon. Briana D. Sewell​

Virginia Speaker of the House Appointee

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Vacant

Gubernatorial Appointee

Governance

Senate Bill 576 (SB 576), approved by the General Assembly on April 17, 2002, created the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. SB 576 details the composition, charge, powers functions, and responsibilities of the Authority. 

NVTA’s transportation funding stream was established through House Bill 2313 (HB 2313). In order for projects to be eligible to receive regional funding from NVTA, as mandated in HB 2313, all projects must be identified in NVTA’s long-range transportation plan, TransAction, and have been rated under the House Bill 599 (HB 599) Rating and Evaluation process, or mass transit capital projects that increase capacity.

The following are links for NVTA’s legislative history: 

The General Assembly assigned the following powers and functions of the Authority: 

  • Regional Planning: NVTA develops and updates a transportation plan for Northern Virginia (Planning District Eight). NVTA refers to the plan as TransAction.
  • Project Implementation: Once NVTA adopts the TransAction plan, NVTA can implement projects identified within the plan or fund implementation through others.
  • Partnerships & Operations: NVTA can manage transportation facilities itself or contract others to do so.
  • Land Acquisition: NVTA can acquire land for transportation projects or transfer it to other agencies.
  • Mass Transit Planning: NVTA can create and support mass transit plans, including contracting for facilities, equipment and operational services.

Under Senate Bill 576, NVTA is responsible for region wide transportation planning and oversight:

  • Coverage Area: NVTA embraces the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, along with the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park.

Senate Bill 576 charged NVTA to establish two key advisory committees:

  • Technical Advisory Committee (TAC): Provides recommendations on transportation projects, funding strategies and other matters as directed by NVTA.
  • Planning Coordination Advisory Committee (PCAC): Ensures coordination among Cities, Counties and Towns in regional transportation planning.

Since 2002, NVTA has added more committees with varying functions to support its priorities and processes.

NVTA is responsible for long-range transportation planning of regional projects in Northern Virginia. Through this responsibility, NVTA establishes regional transportation policies and priorities and seeks regional consensus whenever possible.

NVTA’s policies and priorities are based on performance-driven criteria, including:

  • Improving travel times and reducing congestion
  • Connecting regional activity centers
  • Enhancing safety and air quality
  • Moving the most people in the most cost-effective manner

 

NVTA reports annually on its expenditures to reduce congestion and improve air quality in Northern Virginia.

Other responsibilities of the Authority include: 

  • General oversight of regional programs involving mass transit or congestion mitigation, including, but not necessarily limited to, carpooling, vanpooling, and ridesharing. Long-range regional planning, both financially constrained and unconstrained. 
  • Recommending to state, regional, and federal agencies regional transportation priorities, including public-private transportation projects, and funding allocations. 
  • Developing, in coordination with affected counties and cities, regional priorities and policies to improve air quality. 
  • Allocating to priority regional transportation projects any funds made available to the Authority and, at the discretion of the Authority, directly overseeing such projects. 
  • Recommending to the Commonwealth Transportation Board priority regional transportation projects for receipt of federal and state funds. 
  • Recommending to the Commonwealth Transportation Board use and/or changes in use of tolls for facilities in the area embraced by the Authority. 
  • General oversight of regional transportation issues of a multi-jurisdictional nature, including but not limited to intelligent transportation systems, signalization, and preparation for and response to emergencies. 
  • Serving as an advocate for the transportation needs of Northern Virginia before the state and federal governments. 
  • Applying to federal, state and other public and private agencies for grants or other contributions toward the Authority’s mission of improving transportation facilities and services in Northern Virginia. 
  • Acting as a “responsible public entity” for the purpose of the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and/or operation of a “qualifying transportation facility” under the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995.