Quantitative Measures

NVTA evaluates all eligible projects using three legally mandated quantitative measures. NVTA is required to give priority to projects that achieve the greatest Congestion Reduction Relative to Cost (CRRC).

• Congestion Reduction Relative to Cost (CRRC):  Measures potential congestion relief relative to a project’s total cost, to determine regional benefit.
• TransAction Project Ratings: Evaluates alignment with NVTA’s long-range plan’s 10 performance measures.
• Long Term Benefit: Ensures proportionate return of transportation benefits to NVTA’s member jurisdictions over time.

Qualitative Measures

NVTA evaluates all eligible projects through a set of qualitative factors.

• Project Continuation: Considers if the project already has NVTA funds.
• Funding Gap: Assesses ability to be fully funded. 
• Committed External Funding: Rates amount of funds from other sources.
• Past Performance: Considers how efficiently project sponsors have used NVTA funding in the past.
• Project Readiness: Considers proximity to construction completion.
• Local Priority:  Jurisdictions rank their own submitted projects.​​​​​​​
• Geographic &  Modal Balance: Ensures funding is spread proportionately across the region and across different transportation modes.​​​​​​​

Application Portal

Applications must be submitted through the online portal.

Funds Available

This SYP cycle will use 70% Regional Revenues from FY2030 and FY2031. The NVTA Finance Committee will make a recommendation to the Authority on revenue projections and PayGo in Spring 2026. The last SYP cycle (FY2024-2029) approved projects worth $695 million.

Evaluation Process

The evaluation includes eligibility assessment, quantitative factors, qualitative considerations and public comment. All projects considered for regional revenues are subject to a comprehensive regional evaluation process that uses multiple inputs and does not rely on a single metric:

Eligibility

Projects must be included in the current TransAction project list adopted in December 2022 (could be a subset or combination), must be wholly (or substantially) located in Northern Virginia, and accompanied by Governing Body resolution(s);

Quantitative Factors

a. Congestion Reduction Relative to Cost (CRRC). As required by Virginia Code, the Authority must give priority to projects with the highest CRRC ratios;

b. TransAction Rating. Includes technical analyses from TransAction such as project level ratings. These ratings have previously been referred to as HB599 project ratings;

c. Long Term Benefit (LTB). The FY2026-2031 SYP Update will continue to consider Long Term Benefit as a factor. NVTA staff will apply the LTB Principles approved by the Authority in December 2014. The LTB analysis will complement, but not replace, ‘geographic balance’ that has been used as a qualitative consideration in previous funding programs.

Qualitative Considerations

Takes into account factors that cannot easily be considered in a formula, such as geographic and modal balance; leveraging of other funding sources, project readiness, past performance, and align with NVTA’s Core Values of equity, safety, and sustainability. Past performance using NVTA regional revenues in previous funding programs will be an important consideration. Applicants are required to upload statements describing how well their candidate projects support and/or enhance the Core Values.

Public Comment

An NVTA Public Hearing will be held, with a period for public comment in Spring 2026.