State Route 267 (Virginia)

State Route 267 (Virginia) is a limited-access highway in northern Virginia that links the Shenandoah Valley and Washington metropolitan area. The corridor combines the Dulles Toll Road, Dulles Greenway, and Dulles Access Road, serving Dulles International Airport, suburban centers such as Tysons Corner, and commuter routes to Arlington and Alexandria. It functions as a regional arterial for traffic between the I‑81 corridor, I‑66, and I‑495.

Route description

The route begins near Front Royal in Warren County and proceeds southeast through rural and exurban landscapes of Fauquier County and Loudoun County before transitioning to the suburban environments of Fairfax County and Arlington County. Along its alignment the highway connects with U.S. 50, U.S. 15, SR 7, and SR 28, providing access to nodes such as Leesburg, Ashburn, and Reston. Through the Dulles Airport complex the route comprises the Dulles Access Road—onduty for airport traffic—and the adjacent Dulles Toll Road, which continues east toward the Capital Beltway and The Pentagon. The road crosses the Chesapeake Bay watershed and spans tributaries feeding the Potomac River before entering the inner suburbs near Tysons.

History

The corridor's origins trace to mid-20th-century planning for a roadway to serve the emerging National Airport and the later Dulles International Airport. Early proposals involved agencies such as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Virginia Department of Transportation to coordinate highway and transit corridors. Construction milestones include the opening of the Dulles Access Road with facilities development for the new airport, the private development and extension of the Dulles Greenway by investors affiliated with regional developers, and the Commonwealth’s later conversion of segments into tolled facilities under public-private arrangements. Political debates over tolling and expansion drew attention from local jurisdictions including Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and federal entities such as the Federal Aviation Administration. Major projects paralleled initiatives like the Metrorail Silver Line and coordinated with federal funding mechanisms such as appropriations from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Major intersections

Key junctions occur with arterial and interstate highways that link regional and interstate travel. Westbound connections begin near U.S. 522 and proceed to intersections with U.S. 17 and U.S. 15. In Loudoun County the route interfaces with VA 7 and VA 28, which serve business parks and data centers near Ashburn and Reston. Approaching the Capital Beltway, SR 267 meets I‑495 and provides ramps to I‑66 and U.S. 50 for access to Washington and Arlington National Cemetery. At the eastern terminus the roadway integrates with local arterials near The Pentagon and federal office complexes such as Crystal City and Ballston.

Tolling and maintenance

Tolling on the corridor is administered through a combination of private and public authorities. The Dulles Greenway segment is managed by a private operator under the Dulles Greenway, LLC structure, with toll schedules subject to regulatory oversight by entities that include the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The Dulles Toll Road segment is operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority following agreements that shifted certain responsibilities from the Commonwealth to regional authorities. Electronic toll collection uses interoperability with systems such as E-ZPass, coordinating with neighboring tolled facilities like I‑66 Express Lanes and I‑495 Express Lanes. Maintenance responsibilities are divided: the Access Road serving airport traffic is restricted by federal and airport authorities, while the toll road and greenway segments are maintained by their respective operators, who coordinate with county transportation staffs in Loudoun County and Fairfax County for incident management and capital improvements.

Future plans and improvements

Planned improvements emphasize multimodal integration, capacity enhancement, and environmental mitigation. Projects tied to the Metro Silver Line extension and to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority transit-oriented development aim to reduce single-occupant vehicle demand. Capacity projects include interchange reconfigurations at VA 7, ramp upgrades near SR 28, and potential widening proposals evaluated by the Virginia Department of Transportation in coordination with regional planners such as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Funding sources under consideration include toll revenue bonds, federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and public-private partnerships similar to earlier arrangements with the Dulles Greenway. Environmental assessments reference the National Environmental Policy Act process and coordination with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency for wetlands and watershed protections tied to the Potomac River basin.

Category:Transportation in Virginia Category:Roads in Northern Virginia