Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority

 

First 2.57 miles of Virginia CFX opens click here

The primary purpose of the Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority (CFX), created by the Virginia General Assembly, is to improve transportation into, from, within and through Southwest Virginia, assist in regional economic development and generally enhance highway safety in the affected localities of Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties.

The authority was created by the General Assembly in 2017. The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) provides staffing assistance to the Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority.

Under the code of Virginia, the authority has a total membership of 12 members, including nine non-legislative citizen members and three ex officio members. Six of the non-legislative citizen members are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates — two each from Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties. Three members are appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, including one each from Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties. The chairmen of the boards of supervisors of Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties, or their designees, serve as ex officio members with voting privileges.

The authority will work with counties, municipalities, state and federal agencies, public nonprofit corporations, private corporations, associations, partnerships and individuals for the purpose of planning, assisting and establishing recreational, tourism, industrial, economic and community development of the proposed Coalfields Expressway for the benefit of the Commonwealth.

It is also authorized to work with surrounding states in developing the Coalfields Expressway in the Commonwealth,  in an effort to link Interstates 64 and 77 in West Virginia with Route 23 in Virginia, which links to interstates in Kentucky and Tennessee.

T​he Coalfields Expressway, designated as U.S. Route 121, is also designated as a Congressional High Priority Corridor

 

View interstate connectivity map here.

CFX Authority Members

Jay Rife – Buchanan County
Chairman

J.H. Rivers – Wise County
Vice Chairman

James Keen – Buchanan County

Ed Talbott – Buchanan County

Scott Mullins – Dickenson County

Harry Childress – Dickenson County

Keith Viers – Dickenson County

Bonnie L. Bates – Wise County

J.H. Rivers – Wise County

Melanie Salyer – Wise County

Ex-Officio Members

 

Philip Cook – Buchanan County
Josh Evans – Dickenson County
John Schoolcraft – Wise County

Staff

Jonathan Belcher
Executive Director/Secretary-Treasurer

Meeting Notices

The board of the Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority will meet at 3 p.m. Monday, December 11, 2023, at the Southern Gap Transportation & Logistics Center, 1102 Ovenbird Road, Grundy, VA.

 

 

 

Resources

2022 Annual Report of the Virginia CFX Authority

2021 Annual Report of the Virginia CFX Authority

2017-2020 Annual Report of the Virginia CFX Authority

First Miles of CFX Open click here

$7 Million Federal Allocation to Benefit Virginia CFX click here

News release on the June 26, 2023 meeting of the CFX Authority click here.

News release on the Dec. 9, 2022 meeting of the CFX Authority click here.

News release on the May 11, 2022 meeting with VDOT stressing need for CFX click here.

News release on the April 18, 2022 meeting of the Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority click here.

Message from Congressman Morgan Griffith on the Virginia Coalfields Expressway, click here.

The Virginia Code establishing Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority

CFX Authority Resolution Supporting the Completion of the Coalfields Expressway

CFX Project Map

Economic Impact of CFX

Chmura Study: “Economic Impact of the Coalfields Expressway in its Corridor in Virginia and West Virginia”

Chmura PowerPoint on Study