The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) voted today to defer final consideration and not include the I-495 Southside Express Lanes (SEL) project in Visualize 2050. Visualize 2050 is the metropolitan transportation plan that highlights planned investments through the year 2050 to address transportation issues and achieve regional goals. Transportation projects must be in the plan to receive federal funding and approvals.

The project, introduced by the Virginia Department of Transportation in 2023, would extend the express lanes system by approximately 11 miles from the Springfield Interchange (I-95/I-395/I-495) in Fairfax County, across the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, to the MD 210 interchange in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

“This corridor across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is of great regional and even national importance, and this vote is one that our members have taken very seriously,” said Walter Alcorn, TPB Chair and Fairfax County Supervisor. “These decisions are not easy, and that’s why it’s important for the TPB to serve as a forum for regional deliberation and collaboration. I believe our action today shows that there is more work to be done on the project to achieve the regional agreement necessary to advance."

The TPB previously approved all other regionally significant projects proposed, except the I-495 SEL project, at its May 2024 meeting. At that time, the TPB had delayed the I-495 SEL project’s inclusion to allow the Virginia Department of Transportation to address concerns about its impact.

Officials noted the I-495 SEL project as currently proposed has yet to fully and satisfactorily address the issues identified to secure concurrence from all the jurisdictions through which it would traverse and encouraged VDOT and MDOT to continue to explore project options and work with local jurisdictions towards securing a consensus on improvements to this important regional corridor.

The TPB will be asked to adopt the full Visualize 2050 plan on December 17. Prior to the December meeting, the draft plan, along with the draft FY 2026–2029 Transportation Improvement Program and draft Air Quality Conformity Analysis Report, will be released for a 30-day public comment period, from October 23-November 21. Learn more at visualize2050.org.

MORE: 
TPB Resolution R2-2026: Defer Inclusion of the I-495 SEL Project