The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) is inviting public comment for a virtual meeting on November 24 at 9 a.m. to review the draft FY 2021-2026 Six Year Improvement Program (SYIP). The Six-Year Plan includes funding for public transportation facilities, commuter and public transportation programs, and all interstate and primary highway projects that are being studied, designed, and constructed throughout Virginia over six fiscal years. The CTB updates the program each year as priorities are revised, project schedules and costs change, and study results are known.
Chapter 1289 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly directs that the FY2020-2025 SYIP adopted by the CTB in June 2019, as amended, will remain in effect through June 30, 2021 or until such time as a new SYIP is adopted that is based on the official Commonwealth Transportation Fund revenue forecast reflecting the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the CTB did not adopt a revised SYIP by July 1 as is normally required by 33.2-214(B) of the Code of Virginia. Previously approved projects in the amended FY 2020-2025 SYIP have continued to be developed and delivered according to their schedules.
Proposed additions to Item 430 of the Budget Bill considered in the Special Session of the General Assembly provide that the CTB may use previously allocated funds not currently needed to support project delivery to mitigate impacts from the revenue reductions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and replace those allocations in the year needed to support current project schedules. Further, the Secretary must report funding actions planned to be taken, including a listing of programs and projects impacts as well as any deviation from the proposed plan. This plan was presented to the CTB on October 20, 2020 and may be accessed here.
Due to major transportation revenue shortfalls resultant from the economic impacts of COVID-19, an allocation restructuring strategy will be implemented for the Revenue Sharing Program in order to utilize previously allocated funds not needed to support current project delivery needs to mitigate impacts from the revenue reductions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and replace those allocations in FY 2021-2024 as necessary to support current project schedules. No existing funding commitments will be reduced, and no existing projects will be delayed due to the proposed restructuring strategy. New FY2021 Revenue Sharing project selections will receive FY2025 and FY2026 allocations. The biennial solicitation cycle for Revenue Sharing will continue with future awards in the last two fiscal years of the SYIP. Without this flexibility, CTB would need to establish a process in the near term to determine which projects and/or programs to cancel to address revenue reductions.
The FY 2021-2026 SYIP COVID-19 Update will be presented to the CTB for approval in December. In addition, any deviation from the proposed plan presented to the CTB in October will be provided at that time. More information and instructions on how to access the November 24 meeting can be found here and in the notice. If you are unable to attend the meeting, online comments will be accepted until December 3.
VACo Contact: Jeremy R. Bennett