Looking for Allies to Battle HOT

Here is the Sierra Club article:

Not so fast on those Beltway HOT lanes
Northern Virginia Journal
September 4, 2003
By Roger Diedrich
Some of Virginia’s elected officials would have us rush to judgment on whether privately-run HOT lanes (HOV lanes that allow single occupant vehicles toll access) are the best solution to congestion on the Capital Beltway (“Time to fast-track HOT lanes on Beltway”, 8/27/2003). There are just too many questions surrounding the effectiveness of HOT lanes not to do a full and complete analysis of this proposal and allow time for a thorough public debate.

Will HOT lanes reduce Beltway congestion? Many studies have shown that simply adding more lanes does not solve congestion. Instead, the new lanes fill up with traffic as more people switch to driving, change their typical driving route, and move further away from population and job centers. While the HOT lanes are priced to keep traffic moving, the non-express lanes will quickly face increasing congestion. In the years following the construction of the SR 91 Express Lanes in Orange County, CA—one of four HOT lane systems in the US—the commute on the non-express lanes deteriorated into one of the worst in the state.

Can a private company successfully run HOT lanes? For SR 91 in Orange County, it took 31 months of operation, three toll increases, and new charges for carpools before any profit was made. In addition, the private company had a “non-compete” clause in its contract preventing the local transportation authority from upgrading—even for safety reasons—roads in the surrounding area. In 2002, amid complaints about non-express lane conditions and rising toll costs, the Orange County Transportation Authority spent over $200 million to purchase the lanes, and regain functional control of the highway.

What do we know about Fluor Daniel? We do know that this is the company responsible for the Pocahontas Parkway, a toll road south of Richmond, which has consistently failed to meet profit expectations. To protect the company from financial risk on the Beltway project, Fluor Daniel could ask the state to bear a portion of construction costs and provide tax-exempt loans, which would save the company millions of dollars. This would amount to a huge taxpayer subsidy to a private company.

Are HOT lanes good for transit? Proponents argue that faster moving lanes make express bus service possible, and that toll revenues will pay for it. But how will express bus service work on the Beltway? How much additional money is promised to transit services? Would VDOT require that Fluor Daniel devote a percentage of its profits to bus service operation? If the company fails to make a profit, as is the case with the Pocahontas Parkway, where would the money for bus service come from? A HOT lanes project near San Diego is often used an example of how tolls can be used to fund transit, but that was a much different project than is proposed for the Beltway. A public agency completed that project with federal dollars, and it was a conversion of HOV lanes to HOT lanes, which is much less expensive than constructing new lanes. The result was significantly more funds available for transit than should be expected on the Beltway project.

Furthermore, it is unclear how buses would access HOT lanes, or how riders would access the bus. If only three locations will have an on/off ramp directly to the HOT lanes, buses will otherwise be forced to cross four congested lanes of traffic to get to the HOT lanes, making express bus service impractical. And would bus stops be located adjacent to the Beltway? If so, would riders walk to those bus stops, or would large park and ride lots have to be constructed? These questions need to be answered before proponents can claim this proposal will improve bus service.

A Better Solution: Beltway Rail & Land-Use Changes: A new rail line in the Beltway corridor combined with compact development at the stations is a better way to provide transportation choices and improve livability. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation completed a Beltway Rail Study in 2001, which found that a new rail line would significantly improve mobility in the area. For example, the light rail alternative on Backlick and Gallows Roads was found to carry 73,000 trips a day. In fact, ridership levels would likely be much higher if more compact, mixed-use development is built in places like Annandale and Merrifield.

Strong public support for Beltway rail was demonstrated during the public comment period and public hearings for the Beltway EIS last year. VDOT received over 800 comments supporting the inclusion of a rail alternative in the study, and dozens of residents spoke in support of rail at the hearings. But VDOT has ignored this overwhelming public sentiment while instead focusing only on more lanes.

Thus far, we have only heard one side of the debate about HOT lanes. It is a new idea that many are excited about. But area residents need time to research the issue, and deserve the chance to air their feelings at public hearings. In addition, Governor Warner and Northern Virginia public officials should insist that a rail and land-use alternative be included in the Draft EIS, so that the public’s decision is fully informed.


Roger Diedrich is the chairman of the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club.

Great article. We need this guy on our Anti-HOT side.

Sorry - forgot to mention she wants responses by 12/17!

quote:

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Originally posted by jlcnole
[br]Delegate Michelle McQuigg (51st District representative to the Virginia House of Delegates) has a pre-legistlative session survey on her website asking about HOT Lanes (and a bunch of other topics). If anyone is interested in making their view known, here is the link: http://www.digital-wise.com/51/pre05surv.cfm

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I only want to help because I don't see Hot Lanes as a very good solution to an already bad transportation system. I agree with the other posters who say it's going to end slugging and add time to everyone's commute.

I have, since last year's election, moved out of the jurisdiction where I ran for office. I've moved to Stafford County and would be starting from ground zero with regards to any political aspirations. If I ever do give it a shot again it'll be quite some time.

I just want to offer my help to this effort with the skills and knowledge I did learn in politics.

Is there a consolidated effort to fight HOT lanes in Northern Virginia? Besides the Hot Lane section and message board of this website is there an organized group of commuters making their voices heard in an structured way with local and federal government officials.

If we (those against Hot Lanes) simply rely on our colleagues here on the message board to author letters and attend meetings to fight the fast moving proposals their going to be slammed on our roads before you can blink an eye.

Remember a majority of the folks giving the green light to Hot lane proposals rarely commute to DC or even sit in the congested traffic. Most of our locally elected officials are either retired professionally or work in the local jurisdiction they represent. In Prince William County only 3 of the 8 members of the Board of Supervisors regularly commute outside of PWC for work (and at least two of them typically do the commute at non-peak hours) and only one member of the state delegation from PWC to the General Assembly works north of PWC.

The way they see it is “I ran on making traffic better for my constituents and hey these Hot Lane proposals sound like a pretty good deal.” If they don’t hear a vociferous opposition they’ll say “yes” and have the campaign material spouting “Providing Transportation Solutions” as fast as they can.

What needs to happen is we, commuters, need to organize in numbers, and aggressively recruit as many folks as we can. Do write the letters to the electeds, start letters-to-the-editor campaigns and make sure there are a number of people who are willing to attend and speak at meetings in all of the jurisdictions that Hot Lane proposals will have to go through. All this combined with finding partners, whether it be environmental groups or other to speak out against the proposals.

Opposition can’t be limited to one jurisdiction's Board of Supervisors’ chamber (i.e. PWC), it will have to be made in all local jurisdictions' chambers as well as Council of Governments, state legislative delegations and federal legislative delegations.

I’d be willing to do what I can to help organize and work against. As a former candidate for a local Board of Supervisors I have a number of contacts and relationships that could be useful.