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I-66 vote to put Virginia legislators on HOT seat with commuters I-66 vote to put Virginia legislators on HOT seat with commuters
(about 20 hours later)
Even as some members of the Virginia General Assembly attempt to block the plan to create high-occupancy toll lanes on Interstate 66, the state is about to hold hearings on the inside the Capital Beltway design. Even as some members of the Virginia General Assembly attempt to block the plan to create high-occupancy toll lanes on Interstate 66, the state is about to hold hearings on the design for inside the Capital Beltway.
The bill introduced by Del. Jim LeMunyon (R) and backed by House Speaker William J. Howell (R), says this: “No toll shall be imposed or collected for the use of any existing component of Interstate 66 east of mile marker 67,” a point inside the Beltway.The bill introduced by Del. Jim LeMunyon (R) and backed by House Speaker William J. Howell (R), says this: “No toll shall be imposed or collected for the use of any existing component of Interstate 66 east of mile marker 67,” a point inside the Beltway.
If you bought your way into today’s high-occupancy vehicle lanes by purchasing a hybrid car with an exemption, you’re probably pleased by that proposal, though it may have no effect in preserving the exemption.If you bought your way into today’s high-occupancy vehicle lanes by purchasing a hybrid car with an exemption, you’re probably pleased by that proposal, though it may have no effect in preserving the exemption.
Others worried about the future of commuting along these nine miles or so of interstate highway would be pretty much out of luck for the next decade or more.Others worried about the future of commuting along these nine miles or so of interstate highway would be pretty much out of luck for the next decade or more.
A separate resolution proposed by LeMunyon would request that the state transportation secretary study alternatives to add vehicle capacity. “Such alternatives shall include at least three scenarios to add one, two, and three new lanes and multi-modal capacity [carpooling and transit programs] to Interstate 66 in each direction.”A separate resolution proposed by LeMunyon would request that the state transportation secretary study alternatives to add vehicle capacity. “Such alternatives shall include at least three scenarios to add one, two, and three new lanes and multi-modal capacity [carpooling and transit programs] to Interstate 66 in each direction.”
One option worth studying, according to the resolution: Double-decking segments of I-66 inside the Beltway. One option worth studying, according to the resolution: double-decking segments of I-66 inside the Beltway.
[Traffic study shows why I-66 is a mess][Traffic study shows why I-66 is a mess]
If your commuter-relief program consists of sticking it to Arlingtonians who live along the highway, this is great stuff. Of course, spending a year studying something that has no chance of happening will do nothing to improve the lives of people who commute on I-66, but delegates from the outer suburbs can’t lose by supporting it.If your commuter-relief program consists of sticking it to Arlingtonians who live along the highway, this is great stuff. Of course, spending a year studying something that has no chance of happening will do nothing to improve the lives of people who commute on I-66, but delegates from the outer suburbs can’t lose by supporting it.
And if you don’t support these measures, well then, you will be branded as backing tolls on your outside the Beltway constituents to pay for bike lanes in Arlington. Why not just go along on a “no tolls” vote, rather than take the chance that voters will try to understand the actual plan, which is so complicated?And if you don’t support these measures, well then, you will be branded as backing tolls on your outside the Beltway constituents to pay for bike lanes in Arlington. Why not just go along on a “no tolls” vote, rather than take the chance that voters will try to understand the actual plan, which is so complicated?
Besides, how important could your vote be when Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), who proposed the HOT lanes plan in the first place, can veto the no-toll bill?Besides, how important could your vote be when Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), who proposed the HOT lanes plan in the first place, can veto the no-toll bill?
Well, state Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said Tuesday that a veto is not guaranteed, should both House and Senate pass the bill.Well, state Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said Tuesday that a veto is not guaranteed, should both House and Senate pass the bill.
“I would not suggest what the governor may or may not do” if the I-66 plan does not have support in the legislature, Layne said.“I would not suggest what the governor may or may not do” if the I-66 plan does not have support in the legislature, Layne said.
Whether the state’s plan goes ahead or gets blocked, I-66 inside the Beltway still will be HOV2 until around 2020, when under a regional agreement regarding air quality, the standard will be toughened to HOV3, meaning the minimum carpool is three persons.Whether the state’s plan goes ahead or gets blocked, I-66 inside the Beltway still will be HOV2 until around 2020, when under a regional agreement regarding air quality, the standard will be toughened to HOV3, meaning the minimum carpool is three persons.
The Virginia government also must meet federal obligations about maintaining traffic flow in HOV lanes, which may require ending the exemption for the hybrid vehicles with solo drivers who now add to the HOV traffic.The Virginia government also must meet federal obligations about maintaining traffic flow in HOV lanes, which may require ending the exemption for the hybrid vehicles with solo drivers who now add to the HOV traffic.
Meanwhile, none of the alternatives proposed for study in the resolution will actually happen, not without a massive injection of new transportation funding into Northern Virginia for construction and a simultaneous decision by the Arlington government to role over and play dead.Meanwhile, none of the alternatives proposed for study in the resolution will actually happen, not without a massive injection of new transportation funding into Northern Virginia for construction and a simultaneous decision by the Arlington government to role over and play dead.
The state’s HOT lanes plan does foresee adding an eastbound lane, and it proposes using toll revenue to help finance the work. This would occur after we have a chance to see if the HOT lanes plan accomplishes several goals.The state’s HOT lanes plan does foresee adding an eastbound lane, and it proposes using toll revenue to help finance the work. This would occur after we have a chance to see if the HOT lanes plan accomplishes several goals.
One is to give solo drivers legal access to the highway during the HOV hours in exchange for the toll, starting in summer 2017.One is to give solo drivers legal access to the highway during the HOV hours in exchange for the toll, starting in summer 2017.
Another is to manage the traffic flow by varying the toll. A third is to use toll revenue to help some I-66 commuters leave their cars behind by getting them into carpools or aboard buses.Another is to manage the traffic flow by varying the toll. A third is to use toll revenue to help some I-66 commuters leave their cars behind by getting them into carpools or aboard buses.
If a study shows that those steps have failed to ease the problems on I-66, or that traffic is spilling over onto nearby routes, it would trigger the widening plan.If a study shows that those steps have failed to ease the problems on I-66, or that traffic is spilling over onto nearby routes, it would trigger the widening plan.
No other plan on the table offers so much potential to help the vast majority of commuters.No other plan on the table offers so much potential to help the vast majority of commuters.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has scheduled three hearings on the project’s design. Each of the sessions is from 6 to 8 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Here are the dates and locations.The Virginia Department of Transportation has scheduled three hearings on the project’s design. Each of the sessions is from 6 to 8 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Here are the dates and locations.
Monday: Washington-Lee High School cafeteria, 1301 N. Stafford St., Arlington. (The snow date is Thursday, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., with the presentation at 8 p.m.)Monday: Washington-Lee High School cafeteria, 1301 N. Stafford St., Arlington. (The snow date is Thursday, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., with the presentation at 8 p.m.)
Tuesday: Stone Bridge High School cafeteria, 43100 Hay Rd., Ashburn. (The snow date is Feb. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., with the presentation at 6:30 p.m.)Tuesday: Stone Bridge High School cafeteria, 43100 Hay Rd., Ashburn. (The snow date is Feb. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., with the presentation at 6:30 p.m.)
Wednesday: VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Dr., Fairfax. This one will be available for viewing on a live stream from Transform66.org at 6:30 p.m. (The snow date is Feb. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., with the presentation at 6:30 p.m.)Wednesday: VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Dr., Fairfax. This one will be available for viewing on a live stream from Transform66.org at 6:30 p.m. (The snow date is Feb. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., with the presentation at 6:30 p.m.)
Dr. Gridlock also appears Thursday in Local Living. Comments and questions are welcome and may be used in a column, along with the writer’s name and home community. Write Dr. Gridlock at The Washington Post, 1301 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071, or ­email drgridlock@washpost.com.Dr. Gridlock also appears Thursday in Local Living. Comments and questions are welcome and may be used in a column, along with the writer’s name and home community. Write Dr. Gridlock at The Washington Post, 1301 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071, or ­email drgridlock@washpost.com.