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Virginia's Commonwealth Transportation Board recently approved a revised six-year, $8.9 billion improvement program for public transportation, rail and highway projects that takes into account a $2.6 billion state and federal funding shortfall during the period. The board also revised the FY2009 annual budget, according to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).

The board cut highway construction from $8 billion to $6 billion, but increased public transportation and rail funding to $2.9 billion between FY2009 and FY2014. The agency hopes to obtain dollars from the recently passed economic stimulus package to help fund some of the rail and transit projects, DRPT said.

"The demand for rail and transit services continues to grow in Virginia," said DRPT Acting Director Charles Badger in a prepared statement. "The funding approved for these program areas will help ensure that Virginians have viable transportation options now and in the future."