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Faster commute to come at a cost
Toll lanes will use congestion pricing; could be $1.60 a mile in peak traffic periods
Date published: 3/11/2007
By KELLY HANNON Drivers who want a congestion-free ride on Interstate 95 could have it as soon as 2010, if they're willing to pay as much as $1.60 a mile in peak traffic hours. A public-private partnership to build toll lanes on Interstates 95 and 395 will use congestion pricing to keep vehicles moving. Tolls will adjust as demand changes. "It will rise and fall based on the time of day or day of week," said Tim Young, development manager for Transurban (USA) Development Inc. Here's how it works: A driver entering I-95 northbound at Massaponax will see an electronic sign displaying a toll price. The driver chooses to enter, locking in that rate for a segment of the interstate. At the next segment entrance, the driver will see another electronic sign with a new toll price. Drivers can choose to pay the new rate and continue driving or exit and join regular traffic lanes. Toll rates will increase as drivers move closer to Northern Virginia and Washington. The companies building the lanes, Fluor Virginia Inc. and Transurban, say toll lanes give drivers a chance to skip traffic when they must arrive on time. "It's about the need for some reliability--if you need to get home to relieve the baby sitter or you need to make it home to see your son or daughter in a ballgame," Young said. PAYING THE TOLLFluor-Transurban has not yet determined where segments will start and end. It will not commit to a toll schedule, either. Toll rates are hard to predict because congestion pricing is based on individual decisions and traffic flow, Young said. The companies have floated one number. Motorists could pay about $1 per mile at peak periods in some segments, said Jennifer Aument, project spokeswoman. But Ronald Kirby, director of transportation planning for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, did an analysis of the project in 2005. He expects that peak tolls will be closer to $1.60 a mile. That's because the federal government will require toll lanes to be free-flowing, Kirby said, and at rush hour, especially inside the Capital Beltway, it could take that price to keep traffic moving. "As you get farther north and more people join the stream going north, demand is going to get higher and higher," Kirby said.
Date published: 3/11/2007
REALITY CHECK
(posted by
craigennis
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
The answer to the conjestion on I-95 is not allowing a private corporation profit from the failure of the lawmakers of Virginia to come up with ideas for the problem.Why not widen the North and South bound lanes by 2 lanes,instead of offering this idea.The proposal will not work over time the HOT LANES will come obsolete plus after being charged $40.00 to commute a day commuters will get tired of this fee.By then it will be to late to correct the problem,only the widening of I-95 will work.Think about it!
Good point about midday use
(posted by
dicerotops
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
liveandlearn made a really good point with midday use. I was so worried about rush hour I didn't even think of that. A lot of people benefit from the midday use, but it sounds like that's going to be a toll as well. I haven't like the toll idea from the start. And until I see it, I am not sure if its best for slugs. The only perk will be that now drivers won't complain that slugs don't pay for gas, which I've heard more than once on the way home. You know, if you don't want slugs, don't pick them up.
wait!
(posted by
staceyf
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Public money will be spent for this? "26.5 million dollars of public funds " is what it says! And it will still be a PRIVATE road? We will still have to pay a huge amount to drive on it?!
I've got a problem with that!
I don't understand
(posted by
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
how this got to be a state rather than federal problem. Aren't interstates part of the federal mandate? The state is sloughing off responsibility for local roads to the counties, and the feds want the states to pay for the interstates. Fully-scheduled buses and trains make a lot more long term sense to me than HOT lanes.
Also, does anyone know whether single-driver midday use of HOV lanes will continue?
Creative Financing
(posted by
therestofthestory
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
This must be the creative financing and partnering with private companies that that idiot Hap Connors is always talking about. The I-95 problem is a Federal highway to the Nation's Capitol, so the Federal Government should pay for it's fix.
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