The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, created in 2002 by the General Assembly through the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Act, Chapter 25, Title 33.2, of the Code of Virginia (Senate Bill 576). The NVTA’s primary functions are to conduct regional transportation project planning, prioritization and funding for Northern Virginia.

On April 3, 2013, the Virginia General Assembly approved House Bill 2313 (HB 2313). This legislation established a funding stream for transportation in Northern Virginia and allows the Authority to begin fulfilling its mission to address regional transportation challenges. HB 2313 separates these funds into “70% Regional Revenue," which is allocated by the Authority for regional transportation projects; and “30% Local Distribution Revenue," which is distributed to localities for their transportation projects and purposes. Revenues began to flow to the Authority on July 1, 2013. Subsequently, on July 24, 2013, the Authority approved its first project list, the FY2014 Program, setting in motion a new era of transportation improvements for the Northern Virginia region. The Authority adopted its next two programs, the FY2015-16 Program and the FY2017 Program on April 23, 2015, and July 14, 2016, respectively. On June 14, 2018, the Authority adopted its inaugural Six Year Program (FY2018-2023 SYP) with 44 projects totaling $1.285 billion in funding.

The member jurisdictions of the NVTA include the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William; and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park. The NVTA’s governing body consists of seventeen members as follows: the chief elected official, or their designees, of the nine cities and counties that are members of the Authority; for FY2018, two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and two citizens who reside in counties and cities embraced by the Authority, appointed by the Governor. In addition, the Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, or his designee; the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner, or his designee; and the chief elected officer of one town in a county which the Authority embraces, serve as non-voting members of the Authority.

As per the Virginia General Assembly Budget Bill HB 5002 of 2014, the Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability (JCTA) shall regularly review, and provide oversight of the usage of funding generated pursuant to the provisions of House Bill 2313. To meet this requirement, the NVTA has prepared this report to inform the JCTA on the uses of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Fund for FY2018.