This article was reprinted with permission from .听
Virginia鈥檚 transportation system is massive, with about 129,000 lane miles of roads and roughly 5,900 miles of rail criss-crossing the commonwealth, according to the and a .
There鈥檚 always some kind of improvement or expansion underway, leaving drivers and commuters wondering when relief will arrive.
But before unpacking what projects Virginians can expect in 2026, federal funding looms as a major factor shaping what moves forward 鈥� and what does not.
鈥淧robably the biggest change to transportation development for 2026 is the fallout that all of our local and state partners are feeling from federal funding,鈥� said Brantley Tyndall, director at BikeWalkRVA.
鈥滷ederal funding in many ways [will be] reduced or dried up. And in particular the USDOT has been ordered to of bike/ped projects. They are viewed as antagonistic to cars and driving. We think that鈥檚 very shortsighted. It鈥檚 going to lead to years and years of funding short falls that will be very difficult to fill.鈥�
Some bright federal funding spots
In November, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Democrats, touted an release of federal grant funding to improve Virginia鈥檚 bus and rail systems. Part of that package includes $8.6 million to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation system to replace aging vehicles.
Also included under that $70 million amount will be roughly $10.9 million to the city of Alexandria and $50.3 million to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to convert buses to low or no emission vehicles.
The money comes from the Department of Transportation鈥檚 2025-26 fiscal year Low or No Emission program and a FY25 Buses & Bus Facilities Program 鈥� all part of the passed during President Biden鈥檚 administration.
Also in November, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy released a similar press release , describing them as part of the Trump鈥檚 administration鈥檚 investment in modernizing America鈥檚 transit bus infrastructure.
Highlights for 2026 at the General Assembly
With an eye toward 2026, here鈥檚 what some government and transportation officials say are on the horizon for the new year.
Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, chairs the Transportation Committee. She said one of the biggest issues her committee will be taking up next session will involve expanding photo speed enforcement devices, which she said did not become law during the previous session.
鈥淭hat was a big conversation last session and an important one,鈥� Delaney said. 鈥淚 think that we鈥檙e going to get a little more into [it] this session because the crime commission just released a that I had asked them to complete.鈥� Delaney said the report was based on conversations from the last session.
鈥淲e just need to have this looked at a little closer so that we can really drill down on where the issues are, and what legislative solutions are needed to address,鈥� she said.
Delaney emphasized that some of those issues range from some transportation board members wanting to expand their use to include more locations 鈥� which some lawmakers disagree with. At the same time, there鈥檚 a debate about whether the current speed enforcement cameras already in place are doing what they鈥檙e supposed to be doing.
鈥淎re they fair? Are they just? And there鈥檚 been a lot of concern about their revenue generation,鈥� Delaney said. 鈥淭here are some localities in the commonwealth that are making thousands of dollars a year in profits off of their speed cameras. And now those funds are going to the general funds, and adding quite a bit of cushion to their budget. It creates, at a minimum, a concern that localities have an incentive to police for profit.鈥�
The reported on this bill last session.
Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel
鈥淭he biggest project in the history of the commonwealth is, have you ever heard of a little thing called Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel?鈥� said John Mahaley, principal transportation planner at .
鈥淚f you鈥檝e ever gone to the Outer Banks, you鈥檝e been through there. That project needed to be done 30 years ago. Finally, we were able to get the money to do it.鈥�
Mahaley said drivers will be able to see substantial completion within a year or so. But full completion 鈥� and opening the tunnel to traffic 鈥� won鈥檛 happen for several months after that, because eight express lanes still need to be built on either side of the water to match the tunnel.
Washington Metro Area
Northern Virginia rail and transit commuters can expect to see line expansions, increased bus service and the installation of modernized bike parking within the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
鈥淲e鈥檙e installing new bike lockers across 73 of our stations,鈥� a Metro spokesperson said. 鈥淲hat that does is kind of enable a kind of wider reach for Metrorail stations. Most people might only walk 10 or 15 minutes to get to a Metro station. But if they live 20 or 25 minutes away, it gives people a safe place to park [their] bike.鈥�
Lockers would cost $1 a day and bikes would be protected from rain and snow. Installation of the lockers will be ongoing, with updates posted on .
For riders on the Yellow Line, starting Dec. 31, the Yellow Line will extend to Greenbelt, serving destinations in D.C. including Shaw and Columbia Heights, among others. In mid-December, WMATA released a that includes rail and service increases on 15% of their routes. If approved by the Metro Board of Directors, the new services would go into effect July 1, 2026.
Richmond and Henrico eye more Fall Line Trail segments
鈥淲e are really looking at more groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting throughout the region,鈥� said BikeWalkRVA鈥檚 Tyndall, in areas such as Lakeside, Bryan Park and Kanawha Plaza.
鈥淪o by early 2026 we鈥檙e going to have about 20 miles under construction or at least under contract being administered and something active or completed in every locality.鈥�
