WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $14,400,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to address traffic and connectivity issues in Norfolk, VA. The funding follows aggressive advocacy by Sens. Warner and Kaine, who personally sent letters to Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao in support of the City of Norfolk’s application for DOT’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. 

“We’re proud to announce that these federal dollars will help fund crucial upgrades in St. Paul’s area, improving city mobility and quality of life for the thousands of Virginians that commute through these streets every day,” said the Senators.

 “We are grateful for the continued and significant support for the transformation of the St. Paul’s area. This $14.4 million BUILD grant brings the total investment, to date, for this initiative above $50 million and helps us leverage additional funding for the generational project. It will fund new gridded, elevated roadways that will mitigate flooding. This transformed and resilient infrastructure will feature pedestrian friendly streets and corridors, enhanced access to transit, and improved connections to broadband. The resilient, mix-use community that will rise from this new foundation will be home to more than 700 units of new replacement, affordable and market rate housing. This significant award was the result of a tireless and coordinated effort. We appreciate the incredible work and commitment of our residents, stakeholders, federal partners including Secretary Chao, Congressional delegation including Senators Warner and Kaine, and City of Norfolk staff,” said City of Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander.

This project will upgrade approximately 1.33 miles of road in the St. Paul’s area to reestablish a connected street grid in a new, mix-use housing and commercial development. Specifically, it will upgrade corridors and intersections along Freemason, Church, Tidewater, Chapel, Reilly, Mariner, and Holt Streets and Resilience Drive as complete streets with expanded sidewalks, streetscape improvements, dedicated bicycle facilities, wayfinding signage, transit connectivity, and stormwater management and flood mitigation.

St. Paul’s area has faced significant challenges due to extensive tidal and stormwater flooding, aging infrastructure, and housing, as well as social and physical isolation from a lack of connectivity to the rest of the city. 

The funding was awarded through the BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grants program, which seeks to invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects that have a significant local or regional impact and promise to achieve national objectives.

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