🚌 Fairfax County’s Route 1 BRT project received far less funding than requested. Yet local leaders say the nearly $1 billion plan is still on track.

💰 Northern Virginia just approved nearly $776 million for 21 transportation projects. See which communities received the biggest awards, what projects made the cut, and how the plan could change local commutes through 2031.

🌳 Vienna just secured $1 million for a future W&OD Trail visitor center. New plans may reshape how people walk, bike and gather along one of Northern Virginia’s busiest trails.

Scroll down and enjoy!

—Chris Colgan

Vienna's beloved third-Friday block party takes over historic Church Street for a laid-back summer evening. Expect around a dozen food trucks, local beer and wine, live music, and family-friendly fun right in the heart of town.
📍 Location: Historic Church Street / Vienna Town Green, Vienna
📅 Date: July 17 | 6:30–9:30 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free admission
MORE INFO→

Spend an afternoon in the heart of DC's wine country. The 13th annual festival gathers local wineries, breweries, food vendors, and artisans at Dillon's Woods, with live music from the Rick Reaves Band, The Darby Brothers, and the Franklin Park Big Band.
📍 Location: Dillon's Woods, Fireman's Field Complex, Purcellville
📅 Date: July 18 | 2–8 PM
🎟️ Tickets: $5 advance (through 5 PM Jul 17), $12 at the gate; kids 16 & under free
MORE INFO→

The ghost-with-the-most closes out his DC run this weekend. Based on Tim Burton's film, this Tony-nominated musical follows offbeat teenager Lydia Deetz on a wickedly funny, visually dazzling trip to the Netherworld.
📍 Location: The National Theatre, Washington, DC
📅 Date: July 17, 7:30 PM · Jul 18, 2 & 7:30 PM · Jul 19, 2 & 7:30 PM (closing)
🎟️ Tickets: Prices vary; available through the box office
MORE INFO→

NOT ENOUGH? SEE 10+ GREAT THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND→

Driving the news
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority approved $116.3 million for “The One,” a planned bus rapid transit line along Richmond Highway.

Fairfax County had requested $463 million.

Details

Why it matters
The award keeps a major transportation project moving in the Route 1 corridor.

For local residents, the line could provide a more reliable connection to Metro, Fort Belvoir, jobs and nearby neighborhoods while supporting safer and more accessible travel along Richmond Highway.

The big picture
NVTA has now committed about $754 million to Route 1 improvements, more than it has allocated to any other project. That total supports both the bus line and plans to widen part of Richmond Highway.

The Route 1 award was part of a $776 million regional transportation package covering projects across Northern Virginia. NVTA leaders also continue to support a wider network of bus rapid transit lines that could eventually include more than two dozen routes.

Between the lines
Fairfax County Board Chairman Jeff McKay said the smaller award will not derail the project because it relies on several funding sources. Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck also plans to keep working with regional partners to secure the remaining money.

Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity remains skeptical. He questioned whether the project is the right investment and said he hopes Fairfax County will not have to cover the funding gap with local dollars.

NVTA did not publicly explain why Route 1 received only part of its request. Staff previously said partial awards can reflect project ratings, other available funding, long-term benefits and public feedback.

What’s next
Fairfax County will continue assembling the funding package while moving ahead with project planning. The key question is where the remaining money will come from and whether future NVTA funding rounds will provide more support.

The bottom line
The latest award is smaller than Fairfax County requested, but it keeps “The One” moving. The project remains on track, though its final funding plan is still taking shape.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE→

Driving the news
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority approved $775.8 million for 21 projects on July 9. Local governments submitted 27 applications seeking about $1.26 billion.

Details

Why it matters
The projects give Northern Virginia residents more ways to reach jobs, schools and businesses.

Road and intersection work could ease common chokepoints, while new transit and trail connections can make shorter local trips safer and easier.

That is good news for a growing region where daily travel affects both quality of life and the local economy.

The big picture
This is NVTA’s eighth regional funding program.

The authority has now committed nearly $4.5 billion to 153 projects through regional revenue funding and more than $5.8 billion across over 400 transportation projects overall.

By the numbers

Between the lines
Road projects received most of the money, but bicycle and pedestrian proposals made up the largest group of funded projects.

Several large requests also received partial awards, including Richmond Highway BRT and South George Mason Drive, leaving local sponsors to manage project phases and other funding sources.

What’s next
Approval does not mean every project will begin construction at once.

The awards cover different stages, including design, property acquisition, construction and equipment purchases.

Each locality will move ahead based on the phase funded and its project schedule.

The bottom line
Northern Virginia now has nearly $776 million committed to a mix of large regional corridors and neighborhood-level improvements through fiscal year 2031.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE→

Driving the news
Vienna’s planned W&OD Trail visitor center has secured $1 million from Virginia to help buy property for the future community hub.

The funding was included in Virginia’s two-year budget, signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in late June. State Sen. Saddam Salim and Del. Holly Seibold backed the allocation.

Details

Why it matters
A visitor center could give Vienna a central gathering place along one of Northern Virginia’s busiest trails.

It may also bring more visitors to nearby shops and restaurants while supporting safer walking and biking through town.

The big picture
The 45-mile W&OD Trail runs from Arlington through Vienna and into Loudoun County.

NOVA Parks has identified the visitor center as a major long-term project that could highlight the trail’s history, support recreation and offer educational programs.

Between the lines
The project remains in its early planning stage. Environmental and structural reviews are underway, and NOVA Parks has not yet set a total cost or confirmed which services will be offered.

Officials are also studying whether Vienna could add separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians. Supporters say that setup could reduce conflicts as electric bikes and faster vehicles become more common on the trail.

What’s next
Vienna expects to present more detailed plans in early winter.

Those plans will help shape the town’s partnership with NOVA Parks by spring 2027 and give residents a chance to respond to early ideas.

The bottom line
The new state funding moves Vienna closer to turning a central stretch of the W&OD Trail into a safer, more welcoming destination for residents, visitors and local businesse.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE→

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