The TPB met on March 19 and April 15, 2025. The following is a summary of key events and board actions from the spring meetings.
March TPB Board Meeting
FY 2026 TPB and Commuter Connections work programs and budgets approved
In March, the TPB approved the FY 2026 Unified Planning Work Program and the FY 2026 Commuter Connections Work Program. With these approvals, FY 2026 programs and staff activities will begin on July 1. As part of the approvals, the TPB will carry over $1.8 million from FY 2025 to continue work on long-range transportation planning (Visualize 2050) and performance-based planning and programming, systems operations and management planning; safety and emergency management planning; bicycle and pedestrian planning; freight planning; and public transportation planning and studies.
The funding carryover will also support TPB’s continued public outreach and communications for the Visualize 2050 plan and coordination of the TPB’s Community Advisory Committee and the Access for All Advisory Committee, community leaders training, and compliance with federal Civil Rights Act requirements. Finally, the funding will support transportation research and analysis related to travel forecasting, travel modeling, surveys data collection, and congestion management.
Several board members expressed support for TPB data collection and analysis of transportation-related environmental, safety, and community impacts—work that has helped the region and jurisdictions meet goals—and encouraged continued discussion on these topics.
Details about TPB activities planned for the coming year are available in the FY 2026 UPWP on the COG website.
Commuter Connections
The TPB board approved nearly $8.5 million to fund Commuter Connections’ commuter assistance and incentive programs to help reduce road congestion and improve air quality throughout the region. Return-to-office policies of the federal government and area employers have resulted in a doubling of the number of new Commuter Connections accounts created and enrollments in the guaranteed ride home program—which includes Baltimore and St. Mary’s County, Maryland, within its service area. Other services that have seen a doubling of interactions include match lists for carpool and vanpool commuters, commuterconnections.org website sessions, and phone calls.
In addition to its traditional programs and incentives, Commuter Connections’ work program includes supplemental Maryland DOT incentives as part of the Key Bridge emergency transportation demand management (TDM) offerings. Expanded marketing for CommuterCash, an incentive program for participants who use rideshare, take transit, bike, walk, or take multi-modal commute trips, is planned for FY 2026. Commuters who verify their non-single occupancy vehicle (SOV) commutes by logging their trips through the CommuterCash mobile app or Commuter Connections TDM System can earn incentives in the form of cash or transportation credits.
Visualize 2050 Update
Development of the Visualize 2050 National Capital Region Transportation Plan continues. Spring and summer Visualize planning activities lead up to the fall 2025 comment period on the draft plan, the air quality conformity analysis report for the plan, and the FY 20206-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Board review and approval is anticipated in December 2025. A public livestream will be available through the COG website for monthly TPB Technical Committee and board meetings where Visualize 2050 progress will be discussed, including a July work session. Public comment reminders will be sent ahead of monthly TPB board meetings and the October comment period.
For a schedule of Visualize 2050 key milestones, visit the Plan Development page of the new Visualize 2050 website.
New Visualize 2050 website
At the March TPB meeting, board members reviewed the new Visualize2050.org website. The website offers a streamlined explanation of the National Capital Region Transportation Plan development process and is designed to coordinate with the plan document through interactive maps. The site will also serve as the gateway for the upcoming 2025 comment period, and offer resources to the TPB and public. In addition to the interactive map gallery, new features include an easy-to-navigate menu and the use of flipbooks so that readers have the option to ‘flip through’ a document or download copies. The Get Involved page houses public involvement opportunities which will be updated in the coming months. Explore the website and share using #Visualize2050!
April TPB Board Meeting
Bike to Work Day proclamation
Each May, Bike to Work Day celebrates the fun, healthy, and environmentally friendly option of cycling to work. This year, Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 15. At the April TPB meeting, Chair James Walkinshaw signed the regional proclamation, encouraging participation and calling on cities and counties across the region to promote commuting via bicycling on the 15. Register and find a pit stop near you! Share your Bike to Work Day journey on social with #BTWD2025.
TPB Transportation Operations Program Director Daniel Sheehan and TPB Chair James Walkinshaw (COG)
VDOT update on I-495 Southside Express Lanes project
Virginia DOT Megaprojects Director Michelle Shropshire provided the TPB board with an update on the I-495 Southside Express Lanes (SSEL) Study, traffic analysis, public meetings, and results of a public opinion survey on the project. The SSEL project would potentially extend the existing Virginia express lanes system on 11 miles of the southern section of I-495 (Capital Beltway).
The SSEL environmental assessment is examining a no-build alternative, an alternative with one express lane in each direction, and a third alternative with two express lanes in each direction. The build alternatives include transit and bicycle pedestrian improvements. Alternatives under consideration include rail corridor preservation along the Woodrow Wilson Bridge segment.
Southside Express Lanes study area (VDOT)
Background: As noted in the June 2024 TPB meeting recap, the TPB approved a scope of work and project inputs for the Visualize 2050 National Capital Region Transportation Plan Air Quality Conformity Analysis. Before the June vote, the board opted to remove one project, I-495 Southside Express Lanes, from the list of project inputs, agreeing to discuss its inclusion during the June 2024 TPB meeting. The TPB ultimately approved Resolution R13-2024 with amendments that directed staff to conduct two alternative sets of regional air quality conformity analysis—one without the I-495 Southside Express Lanes project; and one including the I-495 Southside Express Lanes project. In addition, R13-2024 states that the TPB intends to approve only one of the two alternative regional air quality conformity analyses—either with the I-495 Southside Express Lanes project OR without this project. The board will vote in September 2025 to move forward with or without the SSEL project in the plan.
For a complete overview of the study, including results of the VDOT public opinion survey, see Item 8 on the April TPB meeting page or listen to the April 15 meeting livestream (36:57 mark).
DMVMoves work continues
DMVMoves Facilitator Nick Donahue updated the board on recent discussions of the DMVMoves Task Force with emphasis on how inflationary factors are affecting WMATA’s capital budget. Mr. Donahue reviewed the financial commitment that WMATA would need to maintain a state of good repair for rail while modernizing the existing system. On the bus side, the budgetary emphasis would be on more frequent bus service and infrastructure to improve bus priority on roadways.
For next steps, the Task Force is developing policy recommendations and a final plan for later in 2025. At their May meeting, Task Force members will discuss funding sources to finance modernization efforts and will receive updates from DMVMoves Working Groups on action plans to enhance customer experience and collaborate at the regional level on fare policies, joint procurements, and other opportunities.
Read more about recent Task Force actions.
Stay Connected
Look for future announcements in TPB News and read highlights in the COG Newsroom and Subscribe to COG’s Regional Roundup for daily briefs on transportation in the DMV. The TPB board next meets on May 21 at 12:00 P.M.
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