2023 Northern Virginia District Transportation Update

The Northern Virginia District has experienced many milestones in 2023, but the most personal to me is my retirement from the Virginia Department of Transportation after 20 years. To some, two decades can pass by in the blink of the eye; to others, it can be a lifetime. For me, it has been both.

Change is inevitable, change is good, and change is necessary. Over the past 20 years, the Northern Virginia District has seen innumerable changes.

In Fairfax County, changes in Tysons enabled an evolution from a linear shopping destination into a vibrant, multimodal city,filled with places to work, neighborhoods to live, restaurants to eat, and art to experience—all of which can be done without
depending on a single-occupancy vehicle. In Loudoun County, the influx of young families is creating new, connected communities while retaining the county’s original foundation and essence. In Prince William County, innovative infrastructure is giving residents more time back to maintain a healthy work-life balance. In Arlington County, a transformation is underway to safely integrate longstanding communities with one of the largest companies in the world.

Strong relationships with local agencies have guided transportation projects that are priorities to those communities. An increased investment in engagement with the public has created a two-way dialogue where real-time updates can be delivered into the palm of your hand, public input on projects has greatly increased, and residents can easily see the day-to-day work of VDOT.

A culture of safety permeates across maintenance yards and through office spaces in the district. Staff consistently train themselves and their colleagues in best practices, find inventive ways to bring safety into every aspect of their day, and overall are empowered to make changes to make our workplace safer.

Advancements in technology help to make travel more streamlined. The public have myriad ways to get the get information they need to make the best choices for themselves for getting from point A to point B.

Our VDOT workforce has transformed to more accurately reflect that of our community. Staff from all walks of life work side by side. Unique and varied backgrounds are celebrated, and VDOT’s Northern Virginia District is truly a place for you, no matter who you are. Our focus on succession planning has ensured that current VDOT employees can see themselves as lifelong VDOT employees.

The future will bring continued top-quality maintenance of our transportation system, as well as retrofitting and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure. As well, development and construction of creative and innovative transportation projects aimed at increasing community mobility and improved quality of life will be a central focus.

Always remember that our transportation system belongs to all of us. I will leave you with wise words from Anne Frank. “How wonderful it is that nobody need to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

Thank you for the last 20 years.

Best,
John D. Lynch, P.E.
NOVA District Engineer

About the document:

The 2023 Transportation Update provides an overview of the current, recently completed, and proposed projects in VDOT's Northern Virginia District as well as a report of the district's overall performance during the fiscal year. This publication serves as a reference guide for state legislators and local officials and is updated annually.

For more information about the projects and initiatives covered in this document, contact the Northern Virginia District Public Affairs Office at novapublicaffairs@vdot.virginia.gov. View 2022 Northern Virginia District Transportation Update