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Alexandria Transportation Commission Takes Public Comment on GO Alex Budget

A little-known City fund fueled by development payments is designed to pay for transportation programs across Alexandria—and residents get a say Wednesday.

GO Alex Fund Budget public meeting notice for the Alexandria Transportation Commission on September 16 at 7 p.m.
The Alexandria Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing on the FY2027 GO Alex Fund Budget Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. (Graphic: The Zebra Press)

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A transportation fund fed by payments from new development will get a public hearing this week, giving residents a chance to weigh in on where some of Alexandria’s mobility money goes.

The Alexandria Transportation Commission will hold a hearing on the GO Alex Fund Budget on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. at 2900 Business Center Drive. A virtual option is also available.

Public comment will be taken during the meeting. The City’s hearing notice says written testimony must be submitted by 3 p.m. Sept. 16.

What Is the GO Alex Fund?

The fund is part of Alexandria’s updated Transportation Management Plan policy. Under rules adopted by City Council in 2023, many new developments are required to make payments into the City-managed fund for 30 years rather than operating entirely separate transportation programs.

According to the City’s Transportation Management Plan page, the money supports programs intended to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips and encourage transit, walking, biking, carpooling and other options.

Half of the money is intended for citywide transportation projects and programs, while the other half is tied to the neighborhoods where contributing developments are located.

FY2027 Budget Is $558,000

The Sept. 16 Transportation Commission docket puts the GO Alex Fund at approximately $1.3 million as of July 1, 2026, including a $570,000 carryover balance. The proposed FY2027 fund budget is $558,000.

Citywide spending proposed for FY2027 includes transportation surveys and mode-split verification, grant matches for commuter-assistance and student-transit programs, enhanced mobility travel training, bus-stop improvements and amenities, and bicycle education classes. Small-area-plan spending would support development-specific requests and neighborhood Complete Streets projects.

The fund is still relatively young. City staff have said many developments covered by the newer policy have not yet been built and therefore are not yet making regular contributions. As more projects come online, the amount available for neighborhood and citywide transportation work could grow.

If You Go

What: Alexandria Transportation Commission public hearing on the GO Alex Fund Budget
When: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7–9 p.m.
Where: 2900 Business Center Drive, Alexandria, with virtual participation available
Written comment deadline: 3 p.m. Sept. 16
Details: Official City hearing notice

Mary Wadland

Mary Wadland is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of The Zebra Press, the award-winning Alexandria news publication she founded in 2010 with a mission of celebrating community, culture, and all the good news happening across the city. A longtime community advocate and storyteller, Mary was selected for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce inaugural 40 Under 40 class, served on numerous boards, been awarded the 2024 Business Philanthropist of the Year Award by Volunteer Alexandria, and has served as president of Living Legends of Alexandria Board since the fall of 2021. Known for her deep local roots, sharp editorial instincts, and passion for connecting people through journalism, she has spent decades chronicling the personalities, businesses, events, and civic life that make Alexandria unique. Originally from Delray Beach, Florida, Mary is a Phi Beta Kappa history-major graduate of Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia, and has been part of Alexandria’s publishing and media community since 1987.

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