Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) announced projects from across Virginia’s 10th Congressional District that she has submitted to the House Appropriations Committee’s FY 2024 Community Project Funding program. The Committee will evaluate the projects for inclusion in the annual appropriations bills later this year.
“As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I’ve worked hard to deliver federal funding for key local projects to help improve the quality of life for Virginians in every corner of our district,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “After meeting with local leaders and community stakeholders, I’m excited to put forward these projects that will expand services for those experiencing mental health crisis and survivors of domestic violence, fund new affordable housing opportunities for veterans, invest in infrastructure improvements to reduce traffic and support local economic growth, and much more. I look forward to advocating for these local priorities as the Committee continues its work to craft annual appropriations legislation.”
Wexton has successfully delivered $31.3 million over the past two years for community projects in her district that are investing in local infrastructure to reduce congestion and improve safety, supporting local law enforcement, providing resources for those in crisis, and expanding access to affordable child care and supporting the needs of early childhood educators.
Under guidelines issued by the Appropriations Committee, eligible projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and qualifying non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. Additional information on the rules governing Community Project Funding is available here.
Details about the projects Wexton submitted this year can be found below:
Compton Road Shared Path Project – $1,150,000
The Compton Road Shared-Use Path (SUP) project will add a bicycle/pedestrian path along Compton Road to connect the Bull Run Special Events Center Access Road to the existing Cub Run Stream Valley Trail just north of the I-66 bridge. The I-66 parallel trail network will provide over 11 miles of connectivity from Gallows Road, Dunn Loring (just outside the Beltway) to Centreville in Fairfax County, connect to some of the area’s major regional trails (such as the W&OD Trail via Gallows Road) to provide improved mobility and travel choices, and provide additional connections along new bridges over I-66 that will better accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.
Crisis Receiving Center – $15,000,000
This request would support the design and construction of a Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Center (CRSC) to treat and provide services to people experiencing a severe mental health crisis. The 14,000-square-foot facility is planned to include 10 assessment recliners, 16 residential crisis stabilization beds, and would act as an urgent care center for adults experiencing acute mental health crises.
Hero's Bridge Village – $1,500,000
This project will fund permitting, site work, and construction of 46 cottages to address the severe need for affordable housing and permanent supportive services for aging veterans in Fauquier County, Virginia and the surrounding region.
LAWS Shelter for Domestic Violence Survivors – $1,685,000
This request will support Phase II of a three-phase project to build a new shelter for survivors of domestic violence in Loudoun County, Virginia – a high priority need and identified special needs population for Virginia and Loudoun County. Specifically, the funding will help LAWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services (LAWS) acquire undeveloped land in Loudoun County and prepare the land for building the new shelter.
Mathis Corridor Revitalization Project – $5,500,000
The Mathis Corridor Revitalization Project will reconstruct one of the City's oldest commercial and automobile-oriented corridors as an economically competitive, multimodal, pedestrian-friendly, and mixed-use main street. Specifically, this project consists of the implementation of streetscape standards along 0.55 miles of Mathis Avenue and the construction of a modern, multilane roundabout at the intersection of Sudley Road and Route 28.
Route 50 Interchange – $8,000,000
The request is for the acceleration of preliminary engineering for the development of the planned interchange on U.S. Route 50 at Route 606 Loudoun County Parkway. Completion of the interchange will significantly relieve congestion and improve safety at one of the top three intersections in Loudoun County for vehicle crashes. The project will also create a pedestrian pathway across Route 50 where there currently is none.
W&OD Trail Lighting – $1,862,200
The project will install 12 foot tall streetlights along 1.25 miles of the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail from Catoctin Circle on the east side of downtown Leesburg to Catoctin Circle at Loudoun County High School on the west side of downtown Leesburg. The project will provide a safe route for students walking to and from the high school in the early morning and evening as well as other pedestrian and bicycle travel between the residential areas and the downtown.
Interstellar Dreams Space Center – $980,000
This proposal will establish an interdisciplinary center at George Mason University focused on the transformative private space industry revolution currently underway, looking at the promises for education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program will split its work between George Mason's Fairfax Campus and its Science and Technology Campus.
NASA STEM Workforce Pipeline – $650,000
The project has two components: Immersive Space-themed Professional Development for Virginia’s Career and Technical Education Teachers and Building Capacity to Prepare the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Workforce. Both components will draw on extensive experience in NASA-relevant STEM educator professional development and in creating career and workforce academic pathways.
Public Safety Communications 911 Call Handling System Replacement – $1,000,000
This project would replace Prince William County’s current 9-1-1 Call Handling Equipment, which is outdated when compared to the infrastructure to which it is connected. As a result, law enforcement is currently prevented from taking full advantage of the NG-911 capability. The project will improve public safety and benefit residents, businesses, and visitors by modernizing the 9-1-1 call-handling equipment to be able to utilize the system’s next-generation 9-1-1 capabilities.
Bird Sanctuary Stream Restoration – $1,416,000
The project is a stream restoration of approximately 1,635 linear feet of an unnamed tributary of Russia Branch, which will allow for significant pollutant reduction from the City of Manassas Park into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Bird Sanctuary Stream Restoration project will benefit the Commonwealth by implementing pollutant reductions that will help meet the goals outlined in Virginia's Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan. Virginia commits to have all practices and controls in place by 2025 to achieve the final Phase III WIP nutrient and sediment planning targets in accordance with the timelines and goals developed by the Bay Program Partnership.
Opal Water System – $1,500,000
The Opal water system project will establish a public water system where it currently does not exist and connect a small standalone public water system to improve water quality and capacity. The project will develop a well house, interconnect the existing Edgehill, English Meadows, and Canterbury system, provide an elevated water storage tank, and water mains to the Route 29 corridor. The County’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Comprehensive Plan have included this project for the Opal Service District since the early 2000s. In 2017, the County and the Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority (FCWSA) completed a Preliminary Engineering Report. As a result of that study, FCWSA determined potential private wells to support the system and has subsequently acquired those wells. The County CIP prioritizes this project as a need for the community. In addition, this project will support the overall tax base by allowing for current commercial and industrial users to shift on to a public rather than private system and removing barriers to further economic development initiatives for the service district.
Lovettsville Transite Drinking Water Line Replacement – $1,125,000
The project would replace up to 3,850 linear feet of transite concrete drinking water lines in the Town of Lovettsville with modern, generally accepted materials. This project addresses a potential public health issue. Transite is an asbestos-based concrete that has known health implications.
Lovettsville Transite Sewer Line Replacement – $375,000
The project would replace up to 3,850 linear feet of transite concrete sewer lines in the Town of Lovettsville with modern, generally accepted materials. This project addresses a potential public health issue. Transite is an asbestos-based concrete that has known health implications.
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