On January 14, 2025 the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced the results of Round 6 of its SMART SCALE program, which will provide approximately $1 billion in transportation funding across the Commonwealth for fiscal year 2026. Out of 270 applications scored statewide, 53 projects were selected for funding.
SMART SCALE, which was established in 2014, is VDOT’s data-driven prioritization process that helps the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) objectively select and fund the most important transportation projects. The program evaluates potential projects based on key factors including safety, congestion reduction, accessibility, land use, economic development, and environmental quality.
In this round of funding, VDOT received applications totaling $8.2 billion in requests, significantly exceeding the available funding. The process awards funding through two main programs: the Construction District Grant Program (DGP) and the High-Priority Projects Program (HPP). The Staunton Construction District was awarded the following for 6 total projects:
- Total Cost of Projects: $76.2 million
- Total SMART SCALE Request: $69.9 million
- Funding breakdown: 4 projects funded through DGP (District Grant Program) and 2 projects funded through HPP (High Priority Projects Program)
For the HRMPO region, the following projects were selected for funding:
- Mt. Clinton Pike Corridor Safety (City of Harrisonburg): $12.3 million
- Port Republic Road at I-81 Exit 245 (Harrisonburg-Rockingham MPO): $10.5 million
The total investment in HRMPO regional projects amounts to approximately $22.8 million. These projects will enhance safety along the Mt. Clinton Pike corridor and improve access and traffic flow at the Port Republic Road/I-81 interchange. The next steps in the process include public hearings in Spring 2025, followed by the development of a consensus funding scenario in May and final adoption of the Six-Year Improvement Program by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in June.
For more information about SMART SCALE and the selected projects, visit smartscale.org, or review the CTB SMART SCALE Round 6 presentation from the January 14, 2025 meeting.