VDOT Maintenance Study Talking Points

Virginia Bicycling Federation developed these talking points for the Virginia Conservation Network in support of SJ 260, a proposed study of VDOT maintenance practices.

You can view this document in PDF form here.

Virginia Conservation Network Talking Points for SJ 260

January 15, 2025

SUPPORT SJ260

Topic: JLARC study of VDOT maintenance funding and practices

Patron: Senator Danica Roem

OVERVIEW:

Directs JLARC to comprehensively study and report on VDOT’s funding resources, allocation policies, and practices for maintaining Virginia’s surface transportation infrastructure, both within the VDOT system and for the urban localities that receive highway maintenance payments from VDOT.

REASONS TO SUPPORT:

Prioritizing the adequate maintenance of existing highway assets over new construction projects is an honored best practice.

Since JLARC’s last such report in January 2002, Virginia’s highway, bridge, and park-and-ride assets have grown substantially, and its active transportation and transit-rider assets have become increasingly prominent, especially in urban and suburban localities.

Due to cost inflation and the additional assets now being generated by the three regional transportation authorities, VDOT’s available funds and current allocation practices to maintain surface transportation infrastructure may be insufficient to keep Virginia’s transportation assets in suitable repair.

The maintenance needs of VDOT’s paths and sidewalks would be examined, including periodic pavement condition assessments, to enable preventive maintenance, resurfacing, or replacement, as appropriate, on a timely basis.

Highway maintenance allocations to the VDOT districts and to non-VDOT localities would be studied to estimate the annual maintenance payments needed to suitably maintain all street and highway assets in VDOT’s statewide inventory and to ensure that maintenance funding constraints do not preclude the installation of life-saving traffic control devices.

The study would also explore options, including partnership opportunities, to proactively provide better scheduled maintenance and limited winter maintenance of VDOT paths, sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit-rider amenities.

###

More about Virginia Legislation

Virginia's legislative sessions are brief and hectic. Over the course of the year, WABA works with a variety of partners including the Virginia Bicycling Federation to build support for bike-friendly legislation, as well as funding for trails and street safety improvements.

Past victories include law requiring drivers to pass bicyclists with at least three feet of space, allowing bicycles on VRE Trains, and funding for the Long Bridge bike and pedestrian crossing over the Potomac River. Current priorities include legalizing the Bicycle Stop-as-Yield, an e-bike purchase incentive program, and allowing bicyclists to proceed on the Leading Pedestrian Interval at stop lights.

More about Laws & Policy

WABA works with grassroots advocates at the local, county and state level to support laws and policies that make it easier and safer to walk, bike, and take transit. And we work to changes ones that make biking less safe, make it harder to build bike infrastructure, or that deprioritize the safety and convenience of people walking, biking, or taking transit.

In practice that means advocating for robust and transformative Vision Zero programs, enforceable Complete Streets policies, and funding for new infrastructure that supports biking, walking and transit.

Other regional legislative priorities include:

Reforming Contributory Negligence (passed in DC, in the works in Maryland and Virginia).
Getting rid of the Level of Service engineering standards in transportation decision-making.
Funding E-bike purchase rebates.

More about Advocacy

WABA fights for a region where biking, walking and transit are the best ways to get around.

We educate policymakers and organize grassroots advocates for to speak up for safer places to bike and walk; and for laws and policies that protect people who are walking and biking, reduce dangerous driving, and facilitate changes to the built environment.