Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) recently announced it has $350 million to spend on transportation projects. The Virginia General Assembly requires the NVTA to prioritize projects that “reduce road congestion.”In addition, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) must run each proposal through a computer program to determine the plan’s ability to reduce congestion.
Some officials believe the computer model used to rate congestion is outdated and flawed.“Real world experience” actually shows that “bigger roads actually make congestion worse.”VDOT’s model ignores important factors such as safety and accessibility to determine the reduction in congestion. Other areas use more reliable and modern systems to make these calculations, but the Virginia General Assembly will not change.
NVTA plans to use some of the money on eighteen (18) road projects, including widening Route 1, Route 7, Route 28, Loudoun County Parkway, and Route 50 in Fairfax. It is widely known that traffic congestion in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Manassas, and Centreville is terrible. As a result, accidents are a regular occurrence in the area. In fact, several cities in Northern Virginia consistently rank in the top five nationally for being at a high risk for an accident. These projects could go a long way in improving the traffic in the area, and reducing the number of accidents. However, if these construction projects get approved, the threat of construction-related accidents will exist.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident or has died as a result of their injury suffered in a Virginia construction- or traffic-related crash, and would like more information, please call us at (410) 995-1515 for a free case evaluation or visit us online.
