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Toll lanes may come quicker
Two companies building the HOT lanes are open to flexible timeline for a partial, staggered opening.
Date published: 1/23/2007
By KELLY HANNON
Toll lanes on Interstate 95 could reach south of Dumfries sooner than expected.
The two companies building the High Occupancy Toll lanes from Washington to Spotsylvania--Fluor Virginia and Transurban USA--said yesterday they are open to a flexible timeline that could include a partial, staggered opening of HOT lanes in the Fredericksburg area.
They agreed to a new plan after Fredericksburg-area officials objected to a schedule that would've finished lanes in 2014.
"If you've got something done and you're able to turn it on, you're going to turn it on," said Tim Young, development manager at Transurban USA.
Young gave a presentation last night to the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which oversees local transportation planning .
In September, VDOT unveiled a construction schedule that divided work into two halves, a northern project and southern project.
The dividing line is Dumfries, where the current HOV lanes end. The Federal Highway Administration required them to portion it this way, calling Dumfries a natural dividing line.
The division mattered because the environmental study of the northern project is scheduled to finish this winter. If successful, this could clear the way for construction to begin.
The environmental review for the southern project, which includes the Fredericksburg area and the Rappahannock River crossing, will take until mid-2008, at least.
The northern portion's study will move faster because the roadway already exists.
Stafford officials were angry when this schedule was revealed. They wanted the northern project to extend to Courthouse Road or Falmouth, where a large number of commuters enter and exit I-95.
Young said a few studies have begun in the southern project. According to a preliminary schedule displayed at the meeting, construction could wrap on a segment of the southern project in 2011, if the environmental study concludes it is permissible.
"There's an opportunity to be flexible," Young said.
Larry Cloyed, VDOT's manager of the project, stressed both public and private partners want to build HOT lanes to Spotsylvania, as proposed.
Citizen meetings will be held on the southern project later this year. The dates have not been chosen yet, Young said.
To reach KELLY HANNON:540/374-5436
Email: khannon@freelancestar.com
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HOT lane history
Fluor Virginia and Transurban USA were chosen by the Virginia Department of Transportation in 2005 to build toll lanes on Interstates 95 and 395 as a public-private partnership.
Fluor/Transurban want to add a third lane to the current two-lane High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) corridor running from 14th Street in Washington to Dumfries. Cars with three or more occupants at rush hour would still ride for free, but cars carrying one or two people could pay a toll.
Then, from Dumfries to the Massaponax area, it will build two combination HOV/HOT lanes.
The companies would also build six park-and-ride lots along the I-95 corridor and enhance 12 bus stations. |
But before any earth is moved, a series of federally required environmental studies must be done. Plus, Fluor/Transurban will conduct traffic and revenue studies.
Only after the studies are done will VDOT enter into negotiations with Fluor/Transurban that will decide specifics such as what will be built, when and where.
Fluor/Transurban is still studying how much people would pay to use the toll lanes. The average price of 27 cents a mile was quoted in its proposal. That means a 56-mile trip from Massaponax to Arlington would cost $15.12, one way, for cars that did not qualify for HOV use.
Fluor/Transurban estimated the entire project would cost $913 million in its 2003 proposal. But with escalating construction prices, it would cost more today.
--Kelly Hannon
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Date published: 1/23/2007
Most recent reader comments:
Just Dumb
(posted by
redswin
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Only two lanes from Dumfries to Massaponnax? Apparently, they are discounting the fact that Spotsylvania and Stafford are among the leaders in growth in the state. If they can build two lanes, why not use a little forethought and put in the third lane now?
Thanks for giving us another project that will be outdated before it the ink is dry on the contract.
Slugs Shouldn't Worry
(posted by
mimi2two
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
A $10 one-way toll from Stafford to Arlington equates to $400 in tolls a month. I don't think slugs have anything to worry about. Also, just because a person is willing to pay doesn't mean they can enter the HOT lanes. There will be a maximum number of paid users allowed in the HOT lanes.
HOT will wreck damage!
(posted by
dicerotops
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
This Hot lane is going to make a mess of things. There is already a great slug system. If and when this toll is created, people will pay the $10 day from Stafford to Arlington. Companies will use it as a benefit. The slug system, which is what the HOV people had in mind when they created the HOV, will be hurt. With more cars on the road and less people carpooling, the traffic will be worse than ever.
another example of lazy politicians
(posted by
charladan
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
A $15 dollar toll from Massaponax to Arlington? Why not a public built extension to 295 in Richmond? Extending HOV would benefit the people who want to bypass this area and free up the regular lanes for the locals and commuters. Make solo drivers use the regular lanes.
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