Virginia’s transportation system must connect people efficiently across the state. However, public funds are limited. It is not possible to fix everything all at once. The Statewide Transportation Plan picks out the most important needs. That way, state funds go where they’ll help the most. It also meets legal requirements. Learn more about those by visiting the About VTrans page.

The Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI) is part of Virginia’s Office of the Secretary of Transportation. It was created in 2002 to help all parts of Virginia’s transportation system work together. It helps with roads, rail, transit, biking and more.

OIPI leads a process called Plan, Invest, Evaluate, and Manage. This process makes sure transportation decisions are effective and based on data. This includes:

Bringing people together – OIPI works with local governments, agencies, and the public.

Studying and analyzing – OIPI researches transportation needs and find solutions.

Prioritizing projects – OIPI decides which improvements will have the biggest impact.

Tracking results – OIPI checks if projects are meeting their goals.

OIPI is organized into four sections:

Plan – Runs Virginia’s statewide transportation plan (VTrans), offers technical help through the Growth and Accessibility Planning (GAP) program. It also leads other planning efforts.

Invest – Oversees SMART SCALE, which ranks and funds projects that address the top needs from VTrans.

Evaluate – Manages the Project Pipeline program. This program develops solutions for the most urgent problem areas identified in VTrans.

Manage – Monitors how well projects perform to make the best use of transportation dollars.

VTrans is multimodal. That means it includes the following modes of transportation:

• Highways
• Public transportation
• Passenger and freight rail
• Bicycling
• Walking

Needs identified in VTrans can be considered for funding through:

• SMART SCALE – Projects from VTrans are eligible for funding.
• Revenue Sharing Program – VTrans needs get higher priority consideration.

Projects chosen through these programs are added to Virginia’s SYIP, which the  Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approves each year.

In addition, Priority 1 locations from VTrans are further studied through the Project Pipeline program. This process helps link planning with investment, making sure limited transportation dollars go to the most effective projects.

You can share feedback on current policies or suggest new ones. OIPI conducts public outreach before recommending any changes.

Ways to participate:

• Join the VTrans email list – Get 4–6 updates per year by signing up online.
• Attend a public meeting in your area.

Policies open for input:

1. VTrans Travel Markets – As required by Virginia law (§ 33.2-353), VTrans identifies mid-term needs and priority locations in three travel markets:
   1. Corridors of Statewide Significance (CoSS)
   2. Regional Networks (RN)
   3. Urban Development Areas (UDAs)
   4. It also reviews all public roads for safety needs.
2. Identification of VTrans Mid-term Needs – Needs for the next 10 years are identified to meet CTB goals. The latest set (2021) can be viewed on InteractVTrans MapExplorer.
3. Prioritization of VTrans Mid-term Needs – Focuses on areas with urgent or overlapping needs. The latest set (2019) is on InteractVTrans MapExplorer.
4. Long-term Risk and Opportunity Register – Tracks big-picture trends that may affect transportation:
   1. Climate
   2. Technological advancements
   3. Consumption patterns
   4. Socio-demographic changes

You can connect with VTrans in several ways:

• Sign up for email updates – Use the form at the bottom of the page.
• Check program news – See recent updates and meeting posts.
• Email – Send comments to VTrans@oipi.virginia.gov.
• Use InteractVTrans – Search and download mid-term needs data for your area.
• Follow us – Facebook and Instagram.
• Mail –  

Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment

1221 E. Broad Street, 2nd Floor, East Wing

Richmond, VA 23219