Transportation

Congressman Connolly understands that reducing traffic congestion is critical to our quality of life in Northern Virginia.  As Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, he launched the county’s first dedicated transportation plan, expanded transit throughout the county, and fiercely fought for Rail to Dulles.  In Congress, he is fighting to fund new transportation projects and fast-track projects already underway.

In 2009, he helped secure the federal funding commitment for Rail to Dulles and fought to accelerate payment of some of that funding to save millions in financing costs. And this year, working with the Virginia delegation, he helped secure the largest TIFIA award in history which will freeze rates on the Dulles Toll road for five years and signficantly keep down tolls in the out years.  He has introduced legislation to study the expansion of transit to Ft. Belvoir and to Prince William County.  He also is working to preserve the annual $150 million federal investment in Metro to replace aging rail cars and make other needed safety and infrastructure improvements to help the system function more efficiently.

Through the Recovery Act, Congressman Connolly secured funding to complete the Fairfax County Parkway, widen the Prince William County Parkway, and construct a new interchange at Fair Lakes.

In addition, he has introduced legislation to force the Defense Department to help pay for local BRAC-related transportation improvements. As the Department of Defense continues to relocate tens of thousands of military workers to southern Fairfax and eastern Prince William counties Congressman Connolly knows additional federal investment is needed to ensure the local transportation network can absorb those additional commuters.