Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board

Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Plan

Also see: http://www.improve81.org/

What's Happening

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), with assistance from the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), studied the entire length of the Interstate 81 corridor in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2018.

The CTB approved the I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan on Dec. 5, 2018 and the study's findings were reported to the General Assembly. The study identified a $2 billion package of projects for the corridor.

During the 2019 General Assembly, two bills were introduced regarding the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Plan, Senate Bill 1716 and House Bill 2718. The bills did not identify dedicated revenue sources for funding the project package. On March 28, 2019, Governor Northam announced amendments to the bills, which would provide for dedicated funding sources for projects identified as priorities. The amendments were passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Northam on April 3, 2019, now establishing the 2019 Acts of Assembly 846.

Establishment of the I-81 Advisory Committee

Among amendments, an I-81 Advisory Committee has been established to provide advice and recommendations to the CTB regarding the development of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan. The committee will meet four times a year at rotating planning district locations along the corridor and report to the Governor and General Assembly each December. The committee has 15 voting members: seven Virginia lawmakers, three CTB members representing the Bristol, Salem and Staunton districts and the five chairs of the planning district commissions. VDOT’s commissioner and DRPT’s director will serve on the committee ex officio in nonvoting capacities.

For more information about this project, please visit improve81.org

Improve 81