A Closer Look at Visualize 2050
Learn about Visualize 2050 in this short video.
What is Visualize 2050?
Visualize 2050 is the current iteration of the National Capital Region Transportation Plan for the Washington DC, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia region. Available here are the Plan, the FY 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program, which provides an investment blueprint for the initial years of the plan, and the Air Quality Conformity Analysis Report documenting achievement of federal air quality standards. Visualize 2050 is a milestone of an ongoing transportation planning process highlighting the region’s planned investments through the year 2050 to address transportation issues and achieve regional goals. The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) is the designated metropolitan planning organization overseeing the development of Visualize 2050
TPB's Vision Statement
The metropolitan Washington region remains a vibrant world capital, with a transportation system that provides efficient movement of people and goods. This system promotes the region’s economy and environmental quality and operates in an attractive and safe setting—it is a system that serves everyone. The system is fiscally sustainable, promotes areas of concentrated growth, manages both demand and capacity, employs the best technology, and joins rail, roadway, bus, air, water, pedestrian and bicycle facilities into a fully interconnected network.
TPB's Values
All people who use the transportation system in the region should have reasonable physical and affordable access to travel by road, transit, biking, walking, micromobility, ferry, and to housing choices.
The regional transportation network should be an asset to attract high quality employers, minimize economic disparities, and enhance each jurisdiction and the region through balanced growth and access to high quality jobs and education for all levels.
Transportation infrastructure and programs in the region should be environmentally, structurally, and financially viable.
Readily available multimodal travel options throughout the region that enable safe and efficient access to jobs, housing, services, and other destinations.
Vibrant, healthy, and safe neighborhoods with a range of travel and housing choices that support economic well-being.
TPB's Goals
SAFETY
SAFETY
Pursue the safety of all users, including travelers and maintenance and operations personnel alike, on every transportation mode.
Well-Maintained Infrastructure
Well-Maintained Infrastructure
Maintain the transportation system’s infrastructure in a state of good repair to provide reliable, safe, and comfortable mobility to all its users. Maintaining the existing system is a top priority that takes precedence over creating new systems.
Travel Time Reliability
Travel Time Reliability
Enable reliable travel times on all transportation options to get the traveler to their destination on time every time.
Efficient System Operations
Efficient System Operations
Implement efficient transportation systems management and operations within and across different travel modes.
Affordable and Convenient Mobility Options
Affordable and Convenient Mobility Options
Provide affordable, practical multimodal options.
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection
Provide and incentivize methods that build, operate, and maintain the transportation system in a manner that provides for healthy air, water, other environmental factors, and mitigates the effects of extreme weather.
Resilient Region
Resilient Region
Facilitate mobility for people in the face of one or more major obstacles to normal transportation system functionality. These obstacles could include
extreme weather events, major crashes and incidents, and equipment or infrastructure failures.
Livable and Prosperous Communities
Livable and Prosperous Communities
Support regional economic competitiveness, opportunity, and a high quality of life for all people.
Plan Development Schedule
Visualize 2050 was a multi-year planning initiative that included public comment opportunities and ongoing coordination with the region’s transportation decision-makers. The plan was approved by the TPB on December 17, 2025.
Header Photo Credits: Fairfax County Parkway - VDOT, Metrobus - Elvert Barnes/Flickr, Bicyclist - Elvert Barnes/Flickr, Water Taxi - Emma K Alexandra/Flickr, Monument and Dulles Metro - Shutterstock
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The preparation of this website was financially aided through grants from the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DOT); Maryland DOT; Virginia DOT; the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation; Federal Highway Administration; and the Federal Transit Administration.