DRPT in the News
DRPT in the News
DRPT promotes the agency’s mission, responds to inquiries from journalists about rail and public transportation in Virginia, and coordinates media events.
Media contact:
Jayla Parker
jayla.parker@drpt.virginia.gov
804-972-4524
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not answered below, e-mail the media contact or drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov.
DRPT’s Open Data Portal is a good place to start. It houses key information, including financial reports, transit ridership data and other performance metrics, geospatial data, and information public transportation and rail projects.
What is DRPT’s organizational structure?
DRPT’s executive team is led by the agency’s Director. The Director reports to the Secretary of Transportation. The Secretary is responsible for developing and implementing Virginia’s transportation program, which includes policy and financial oversight for seven agencies.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) is a 17-member panel appointed by the Governor that meets monthly. DRPT’s Director is an ex-officio member of the board. The CTB approves the state transportation budget each year. The budget allocates funding for transit agencies and rail projects.
DRPT’s partners include 40 transit systems, 79 human service operators, 17 transportation demand management agencies, 15 metropolitan planning organizations, nine short line railroads, two Class I freight railroads, an intercity passenger rail operator, a DRPT-supported intercity bus operator, and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.
What is DRPT responsible for?
DRPT’s mission is to connect and improve the quality of life for all Virginians with innovative transportation solutions. The agency works with rail and public transportation stakeholders to provide service to people throughout Virginia and promotes transportation options to the general public, businesses, and community decision makers. DRPT manages programs and initiatives that support freight investments, administer public transportation funding and planning, and manage investments in local and regional commuter assistance programs.
DRPT publishes an annual report each year about what is happening at the agency. Those can be viewed on its Studies and Reports page.
What is the difference between DRPT and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA)?
The 2020 General Assembly created VPRA to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service as well as to increase ridership by connecting population centers in Virginia with service and increase the availability of such service. VPRA’s authorities include assigning outside parties the rights to design and build infrastructure and administering funding; however, it does not operate passenger rail services. DRPT is responsible for statewide planning for passenger rail services. Essentially, DRPT determines where Virginia will build passenger rail services, and VPRA will deliver on building and maintaining those services.
The DRPT Director serves as the Chair of the VPRA Board of Directors.
How is DRPT funded?
Unlike many Virginia state agencies, DRPT is not supported by general funds. The primary state tax transportation revenue sources are: the motor fuel tax, motor vehicles sale and use tax, motor license fees, motor vehicle rental tax, and recordation taxes. DRPT also receives formula funds from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and frequently applies for discretionary funding from the FTA and the Federal Railroad Administration.
What is the Six-Year Improvement Plan?
The program, referred to as the SYIP, is the method for allocating funds for rail, public transportation, and highway projects. The CTB reviews the SYIP each year. Working with localities, it prioritizes funds for public transportation facilities, commuter and public transportation programs, rail initiatives, and all interstate and primary highway projects throughout Virginia over six fiscal years. DRPT publishes the SYIP on its Open Data Portal.
What is transit ridership in Virginia?
DRPT’s Open Data Portal houses transit ridership data for transit agencies in Virginia. DRPT updates the data each quarter.
What public transportation and rail projects are happening in Virginia?
DRPT’s Open Data Portal includes information about public transportation and rail projects that have received state funding.
Where can people who want to use public transportation find information about their options?
DRPT created the Virginia Transportation Navigator to provide complete information about transportation services in Virginia. The Transportation Navigator is Virginia’s most thorough directory of public transit, human service, and specialized transportation providers, programs, and services. People can use the Navigator on DRPT’s homepage.
How can I find where railroad tracks are? Who owns [this stretch of railroad track]? Where are the rail crossings?
DRPT’s Open Data Portal has a geospatial page where users can identify railroad tracks in Virginia and who owns them.
The Federal Railroad Administration maintains a highway-rail grade crossing database and map that can be viewed on its website.
Does DRPT investigate train crashes?
In Virginia, freight rail accidents are investigated by the State Corporation Commission (SCC). The SCC can be reached at sccinfo@scc.virginia.gov.
Press Releases
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December 12, 2023
Virginia Breeze Sets Ridership Record
December 8, 2023
Two Virginia Passenger Rail Corridors Accepted into Federal Funding Program
December 4, 2023
Commonwealth Transportation Board Approves 15 Projects Improving the Transit Experience
October 10, 2023
DRPT Unveils New Multimodal Trip Planner Tool
September 20, 2023
Commonwealth Transportation Board Approves New VRE and WMATA Funding Policies
July 11, 2023
Microtransit Promising in Closing Transit Gaps in Rural Virginia
June 27, 2023
Commonwealth Receives $4.7 Million to Replace Aging Rural Public Transit Vehicles
June 21, 2023
Commonwealth Transportation Board Approves FY2024-2029 Improvement Program
June 12, 2023
DRPT Welcomes Deanna Oware As Next Chief Financial Officer
June 8, 2023
Commonwealth Receives Federal Funding to Improve Rural Railroad Crossings
April 10, 2023
Commonwealth Transportation Board Invites Public Feedback on Transportation Projects and Initiatives
March 13, 2023
DRPT’s Statewide Rail Plan Receives FRA Approval
March 1, 2023
DRPT Receives APTA Award for Virginia Breeze
February 23, 2023
CTB Approves Grant to Ashton Creek Industrial Park for Truck-to-rail Diversion
January 18, 2023
CTB Approves Grant to Hershey Chocolate for Truck-to-rail Diversion
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December 7, 2022
Commonwealth Transportation Board Approves TRIP Projects to Expand Transit in Virginia
November 15, 2022
DRPT Celebrates First Anniversary of Highlands Rhythm Route of Virginia Breeze
October 18, 2022
DRPT Welcomes Zach Trogdon as its Next Chief of Public Transportation
July 22, 2022
Jennifer DeBruhl Appointed Director of DRPT
July 7, 2022
Virginia Residents Encouraged to Provide Feedback Through Two Surveys
Virginia Breeze Intercity Bus Ridership Rebounds
DRPT Launches New Transit Recovery Campaign
DRPT Director Jennifer Mitchell Steps Down, Acting Named
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October 27, 2021
Introducing Transportation Navigator, the Commonwealth’s One-Click Transportation Service Locator
September 27, 2021
Virginia Launches Expanded Train Service from Downtown Richmond to D.C. on to New York and Boston
August 5, 2021
Virginia offers One-Time Relief Funding Opportunity for Intercity Bus Providers
June 28, 2021
Bay Transit and Mountain Empire Older Citizens Pilot the Virginia Microtransit Deployment Initiative
June 24, 2021
Commonwealth Transportation Board Approves FY22 SYIP
May 17, 2021
VDOT/DRPT and DCR are seeking public input on Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail Project
May 17, 2021
Virginia Celebrates Bike to Work Week, May 17-21
April 28, 2021
Amtrak Expands Carry-On Bike Program on Northeast Regional Trains for Service to Virginia
February 4, 2021
DRPT and VRE’s Rail Industry Day Goes Virtual
January 26, 2021
FTA Awards Virginia with COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant
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December 21, 2020
Public Invited to Provide Input on I-495 American Legion Bridge Transit and TDM Recommendations
December 17, 2020
Virginia Transportation Leaders honored by VTA with Distinguished Leadership Awards
November 24, 2020
Learn About Agency Projects, Initiatives at Northern Virginia Joint Transportation Meeting
Federal Railroad Administration awards Virginia $14.42 Million for Newington Road Bridge in Fairfax County
Virginia Celebrates Transit Appreciation Month this October with Transit Agencies Across the Commonwealth
Governor Northam Signs Hampton Roads Transportation Funding Law, Welcomes New Electric Transit Buses
Long Bridge Project Reaches Critical Milestone
Hampton Roads Transit Adopts New Safety Plan
Virginia Breeze Intercity Bus Service Resumes
Virginia Awarded $239,000 in FTA Innovation Grants
Virginia Breeze Suspends Service Effective April 10
March 2-6 Marks the 10th Annual Telework Week in Virginia
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December 19, 2019
Virginia and CSX Announce Landmark Agreement
December 16, 2019
DRPT Announces Virginia Breeze Route Expansions and Second Anniversary Sweepstakes
October 17, 2019
Commonwealth Transportation Board Advances 31 I-81 Corridor Improvement Program Projects
October 1, 2019
October is Passenger Rail Month in Virginia
September 30, 2019
Commonwealth Transportation Board Invites Public Feedback on Transportation Programs Throughout Virginia
September 27, 2019
Public Feedback Invited on Interstate 95 Corridor Improvement Study
September 27, 2019
Public Invited to Attend Second Interstate 81 Advisory Committee Meeting
September 18, 2019
Commonwealth Transportation Board Approves Funding to Accelerate Highway Safety Initiatives, Authorizes Partnership Agreement on Route 28/Dulles Toll Road Study
September 17, 2019
Commonwealth Commemorates 10 Years of Virginia-Sponsored Passenger Rail Service
September 12, 2019
Virginia’s Try Transit Week Set for September 16-20
September 10, 2019
Virginia Receives Green Light From FRA to Advance the DC2RVA Rail Project
August 20, 2019
Virginia Honored with Two America’s Transportation Awards for the Pulse Bus Rapid Transit Project, New Towing Response Program
July 10, 2019
Public Feedback Invited on Interstate 95 Corridor Improvement Study
July 10, 2019
Summer Travel Season Underway, Passenger Rail Ridership in Virginia Soars
June 25, 2019
Greater Washington Partnership Celebrates Richmond’s Transit Success
June 24, 2019
Governor Northam Announces Dedication of Over $12 Million for Electric Transit Buses
June 6, 2019
Virginia, Hampton Roads Transit to explore using autonomous buses
May 9, 2019
Virginia Celebrates Bike to Work Week May 13-17
April 30, 2019
Calling All Virginians Aboard
April 25, 2019
Commute!VA Launched to Help Virginians Find Commute Options and Earn Rewards
March 5, 2019
DRPT to Host Public and Stakeholder Meetings To Identify Unmet Intercity Bus Needs
March 4, 2019
Virginia Launches Additional Amtrak Service to Norfolk
February 27, 2019
March 4-8 is Telework Week in Virginia
January 18, 2019
Additional Amtrak Service to Norfolk Begins March 4th