Issue Position: Infrastructure

Issue Position

The First District of Virginia is home to some of the most unique transportation challenges in the country and solving these problems is one of my top priorities. We face congestion on I-95, strained commuter rail, crumbling roads and bridges, and maintaining the Port of Virginia. I believe that we must get out of just fixing current problems and get to investing in a 21st Century infrastructure. The role of the federal government is not to dictate what to build, but provide stable, long-term funding to states for their road project priorities. I will continue to fight for projects that prioritize innovation, leverage public-private resources, and maintain the safety of motorists within the region.

The I-95 corridor in Northern Virginia has been identified as the "worst traffic hot spot" in the nation and as a commuter myself who travels along I-95 almost every day, I know firsthand the issues with congestion in the area. To help alleviate congestion on I-95, I supported the Rappahannock River Crossing Project along I-95 between Rt. 17 and Rt. 3 as part of the Atlantic Gateway Program and extending HOV lanes on I-95 to exit 126 -- the Massaponax Exit.

An important component to reducing traffic congestion in Northern Virginia is commuter rail. Long Bridge, which spans the Potomac River between Virginia and DC, is a critical gateway between southeast and northeast rail networks. The current Long Bridge structure is the primary constraint limiting Virginia Railway Express's (VRE) ability to operate more passenger trains that could significantly reduce traffic in Northern Virginia. Healthy investments in federal formula programs will support the VRE's ongoing and future investments to expand their service. Constituents in my district rely on the services of Amtrak and the VRE to commute throughout D.C. and Northern Virginia. I have fought for federal funding to help expand and improve commuter capacity of the VRE and expand existing platform capacity at many stations within the DC metro area.

In other parts of the First District, our bridges and infrastructure need special attention. The Coleman Bridge in Gloucester is a connector not only for vehicles to the Middle Peninsula but also for Navy ships traveling between installations. I included a provision in the annual defense authorization that aims to save local taxpayer dollars by requesting the Department of Defense to review the military value of the bridge to determine whether they should split costs in funding bridge management and upkeep. I am also active in bringing stakeholders together to find a state funding solution to fix the Norris Bridge. I authored a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, expressing my concerns with the bridge's safety and urging completion of a replacement for the bridge. Furthermore, I hosted a Norris Bridge Roundtable with county officials of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula and Virginia Deputy Secretary of Transportation Nick Donohue where we discussed options for innovative funding sources. Moving forward I remain committed to ensuring rural transportation projects are not forgotten.

Right outside the First District is the Port of Virginia, which services all 48 contiguous states and faces an urgent need for expansion. Widening to 1,400 ft. will make way for safe and efficient two-way passage between larger commercial vessels and other operators in the Harbor and Channels including the Navy. With a Benefit-Cost-Ratio of more than $5 returned for $1 invested in construction, the Norfolk Harbor deepening and widening presents a huge return on investment for the nation. It will allow American businesses from across the country to further benefit from the Port of Virginia as an integral part of their supply chain.

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