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Beltway car-pool, toll lanes coming
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Traffic flows over the American Legion Bridge on the Capital Beltway.
FILE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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FILE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Car-pool lanes coming to the Capital Beltway in 2013; construction starts next spring
Date published: 9/11/2007
By KELLY HANNON
Car-pool lanes should open on the Capital Beltway in 2013, giving Fredericksburg-area commuters who work near Tysons Corner a faster way to their jobs.
High Occupancy Toll lanes will be built over 14 miles from Springfield to a point just north of the Dulles Toll Road. Two HOT lanes will run in each direction.
The lanes would connect with HOT lanes planned for Interstate 95/395, which would be opened in sections beginning in 2010.
Lloyd Robinson of the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization said the lanes will expand opportunities for transit and ride-sharing.
"If you are a carpooler or vanpooler or bus rider or if you need to get somewhere in a hurry and will pay a toll, there will be increased convenience," said Robinson, FAMPO's director of transportation planning.
Vehicles with three or more occupants will ride for free at all times in the HOT lanes. Vehicles with one or two occupants can pay a toll to drive in the lanes.
The project's details were announced yesterday by Virginia Department of Transportation officials. VDOT has reached an "in principle" agreement with two private companies, Transurban DRIVe and Fluor Enterprises. Fluor-Transurban will design and build the $1.7 billion project, with $409 million coming from public money.
They are the same companies that have proposed opening toll lanes along I-95/395. The HOT lanes on I-95 would extend south to Massaponax by 2014.
At rush hour, the average trip on the beltway will cost $5 to $6 for vehicles paying tolls, the companies said. But the price will fluctuate, since Fluor-Transurban must charge enough to keep traffic flowing.
VDOT Commissioner David Ekern said the HOT-lane project will relieve congestion in "one of the most congested" highway corridors in Virginia. The lanes will also improve quality of life and economic growth in Northern Virginia, he said.
Construction of the beltway HOT lanes will begin next spring. Work is projected to continue for five years.
A lot of construction will take place at night, but "there will be some disruption" to traffic, said Herb Morgan, Fluor vice president of operations.
Since there is no space in the beltway's median to build new lanes, Fluor-Transurban will build new traffic lanes along the outside edge of the highway.
Date published: 9/11/2007
Most recent reader comments:
This is a waste
(posted by
louturks
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
How about curbing development. You can do all you want to the roads and it won't help traffic a bit as long as new buildings are going up like crazy around the area.
Petition against HOT lanes
(posted by
slamdmh
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
http://www.petitiononline.com/NOTsoHOT/petition.html
Hot Lanes Suck! - They are only for the rich
(posted by
Dana1
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
We had Hot Lanes in California. They are only for the privileged that have large amounts of money. This was a TERRIBLE decision for VA residents.
Another Glowing Press Article about HOT Lanes
(posted by
RH_Woodbridge
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Let's see. All negotiations are in secret. Toll and revenue projections have not been released. The state of Va is giving away $400 million to support a project that benefits a private company. Enforcement will be a nightmare. Carpools will eventually be charged tolls. The average commmuter will pay thousands per year. No discussion of what happens if the project fails financially. Boy, HOT lanes are great.
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