Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation releases draft of Six-Year Improvement Plan

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has released a draft of its Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) for the 2026 fiscal year, indicating $7 billion in planned investments.

The program's purpose is to allocate funds over six fiscal years (2026-2031) towards projects that involve highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian and public transportation, according to DRPT and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

There are several funding priorities detailed in the SYIP as described by the DRPT, including:

• $332 million to local and regional public transportation providers
• $442 million to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Metrorail and Metrobus
• $17 million to the Virginia Railway Express operating and capital budget
• $20 million in continued investment of freight rail
• $232 million for the expansion and continuation of passenger rail service throughout Virginia (Virginia Passenger Rail Authority)

Public feedback on the draft is being encouraged by DRPT at this stage, with nine public meetings planned in different regions across the commonwealth throughout April and May. People are also urged to submit comments online, by email or by mail.

The Richmond public comment meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 at Hawthorne Auditorium, located at 2430 Pine Forest Drive in Colonial Heights.

To view the full, interactive SYIP document, click here. For more information about how to submit public feedback online, visit VDOT's website.