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HOT lane on faster track
Interstate 95 toll lane will reach North Stafford by 2010
Date published: 3/21/2007
BY KELLY HANNON There's a plan to loosen the afternoon bottleneck on southbound Interstate 95 at Dumfries by 2010. Two companies building toll lanes in the median of I-95 plan to accelerate construction of one lane south of Quantico Creek, where high-occupancy vehicle lanes end. A nine-mile, single toll lane, or high-occupancy toll lane, would be built from just south of State Route 234 to north of Exit 143 at Garrisonville Road, said Tim Young, development manager for Transurban (USA) Development Inc. Tolls would be paid by motorists with fewer than three occupants in their vehicles. The HOT lane would improve traffic flow until Transurban and Fluor Virginia Inc. can finish building two reversible toll lanes to Massaponax by 2014. The project offers some relief to Stafford commuters as well as those who live in localities to the south. Last fall, several Stafford County supervisors voiced concern when Fluor-Transurban revealed that its 56-mile toll-lane project from Washington to Spotsylvania was divided in two: a "northern project" that ends at Dumfries in 2010 and a "southern project" to Spotsylvania that would not be completed until 2014. This was not good news, since a traffic jam occurs most weekday afternoons at Dumfries near where two HOV lanes merge into regular I-95 lanes. Stafford supervisors feared the situation would worsen when Fluor-Transurban opened three HOT lanes. Young said Fluor-Transurban changed its plan in response to those comments. The new plan was unveiled Monday night at a meeting of the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. In addition to the new lane, Stafford supervisor Mark Dudenhefer, a FAMPO board member, asked Fluor-Transurban to consider building a flyover merge at State Route 610/Garrisonville Road. The design calls for a flyover ramp at Joplin/Fuller roads in Prince William County. The ramp will carry toll-lane traffic over I-95, connecting with the slow-moving right lane. Just north of Route 610, the toll lane will empty into the left lane of I-95. "You're putting a flyover near Quantico Creek, which to me is a better merge option than what you're putting up at 610. I'm hoping you're going to give people more than a quarter-mile to get over three lanes," Dudenhefer said. Company officials agreed to look at the design. They pointed out that Route 610 motorists may exit at Joplin Road, while through traffic could use the Route 610 exit to avoid a backup. "You've raised some good issues, and the impetus is on us to solve them," Young said. Fluor-Transurban said it will try to do as much grading and clearing for the second toll lane during construction of the first lane. Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436Email: khannon@freelancestar.com
Date published: 3/21/2007
Organize and be heard
(posted by
intense
, Mar. 21, 2008 9:59 am)
If you want to learn how to DO SOMETHING about the toll road 'solutions' being foisted upon you, connect with one of the MANY Citizens Transportation Coalitions across the country. Citizens are fighting these privately owned cash cows aimed at charging commuters thousands of dollars annually to use a commodity they build on PUBLIC LAND. Do a Google search and contact any one of these groups. They are well organized and abundant in Texas, California, Florida and Colorado. You need to inform the public.!!
I agree but there were public meetings held ..
(posted by
WeimCity
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
There were public hearings and comment periods relating to this fiasco. I do not however know to what extent the comments were regarded by the Commonwealth officials. The SLUGGER folks carved out their exceptions to the HOT tolls. Last potential toll price reported seemed to be about a $1/mile or so which I would not pay to get into Washington, DC from Stafford. What would it be ....about $40 one way if what I heard is true? This toll issue is pending final cost figures but I will not ride HOT alone .
ANOTHER STUPID IDEA
(posted by
craigennis
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Who thought up this Intiative?It must have been lawmakers who's pockets are being lined by Fluor-Transurban.The only solution that will work is the widening of I-95.Why use the median strip to build a cash cow for a private company,while the commute will get longer and more conjested.When was the Town Hall meeting where the public got to voice it's opinion?.Or is it that noone wants to hear what the commuters have to say,to have a easy commute we are expected to pay.
visit:craigennis.politicalgateway.com
Our plans dont make sense
(posted by
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
If thay want to be futuristic, why don't they get with VRE, and build two railroad tracks in the median of I-95. Their plan is stupid and so is mine.
small graphic?
(posted by
slamdmh
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Why bother putting a graphic for this article when it is that small?
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