WATCH THE WEBINAR
On June 24, VACo hosted a webinar with DRPT Director Mariia Zimmerman covering the state of rail and public transportation in Virginia and what it means for counties.
The webinar covered many topics including:
- Why counties matter to transit. Local land use decisions, infrastructure, planning, and funding all shape how transit works on the ground.
- DRPT’s role. An overview of the agency’s mission, its FY26-31 funding responsibilities, and how it works alongside VDOT and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA).
- The case for investment. Data on Virginians without car access, the disability population relying on transit, and the economic and emissions benefits of rail and public transportation.
- Virginia’s transit and rail network. A snapshot of the state’s 41 transit systems, human service providers, MPOs, railroads, Virginia Railway Express, Amtrak, and the Virginia Breeze intercity bus service.
- Funding programs. An overview of the newly approved FY27-32 Six-Year Improvement Program ($7.4 billion), the Commonwealth Rail Fund, Rail Preservation and FREIGHT grant programs, the Rail Industrial Access grant, and the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund.
- Support for vulnerable populations. Human service transportation grants, the Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP), and the Rural Transit Assistance Program.
- Getting transit started locally. How counties can use MERIT Demonstration grants to pilot new or expanded transit service.
- What’s ahead. General Assembly-directed studies, the Statewide Rail Plan update, and upcoming changes to the statewide transit operating formula (MERIT), with CTB recommendations expected in September 2026.
The slides presented during the meeting can be found here. The full webinar is available to watch here.
VACo Contact: James Hutzler