September 18, 2026 | Nathaniel Cline | Virginia Mercury
The deficit invited criticism from advocacy groups, including the Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG), which promotes walkable, bikeable, inclusive, and transit-oriented growth in the Washington, D.C. region.
“This deficit highlights the importance of a fix-it-first approach to our transportation network, spending our limited funds wisely by making efficient use of existing infrastructure and ensuring more compact and efficient land use,” Stewart Schwartz, CSG executive director, said in a statement.
Schwartz said Virginia should enable more housing near jobs, services, and transit, helping families shorten commutes and spend less on gas and vehicles. Doing so could “help the state achieve better transportation and quality of life outcomes without breaking the bank,” he said.
Bill Pugh, CSG’s transportation and climate director, emphasized that the think tank Transportation for America’s recent Repair Priorities report rated Virginia’s road maintenance in the bottom category of states, putting it in the category of “Bad Spending; Bad Repair Conditions.”
Pugh said highway expansion spending has outpaced maintenance. From 2018 to 2024, the state spent just 58 cents on maintenance for every dollar spent on expansion. The think tank’s analysis shows the proposed SYIP would continue that trend, with 35% of VDOT funds going to construction and 23% to maintenance.
The report notes that Virginia has improved bridge conditions from 2018 to 2024. Pugh said he believes that this was based upon the policy decision last decade to direct more funding to keeping special structures in a state of good repair.
Pugh said, “Virginia should similarly better prioritize funding maintenance of state-owned roads, including their ancillary facilities like streetlights, and walking and biking facilities.”