Wake Up People! HOT lanes

Bob,
Thanks for posting that letter from McQuigg. It's no surprise, so how can we "guarantee" that HOV will be free?

Who are the wimps you're referring to in your preamble?


Goober

Spending $1 billion on more toll-HOT lanes requires funding a loan paid back over 30 years with the toll revenue. Say the new lanes are built and generating revenue by 2015. The payback period extends to 2045. If technology causes less drivers to use the toll-HOT lanes, the lender would lose a lot of money. Or citizens will have to repay the loan some other way.

The toll-obsoleting technology is as close as 2015, and certainly by 2025. Check out http://conversantcars.com. If you want to see a quicker test of the proposed technology then e-mail the Gov at http://www.govmail.ca.gov with subject line, "Transportation Challenge for Conversant Cars."

Got this from Michele McQuigg re: status of HOT lanes.
Don't look good. Sounds like they basically plan to ignore us. Good timing for the wimps too.. Christmas week.

Bob



I thought you would like to know that VDOT Commissioner Gregory Whilrey
held a press conference this afternoon. Here is information from the
News Release:

"Whirley reached his decision to move forward with the Fluor-Transurban
proposal after an objective review of the PPTA advisory panel's
recommendation and the proposals presented. The panel made its
recommendation in November following a series of meetings and a public
comment period.

Entering into negotiations sets the stage for a possible partnership
between VDOT and the private sector to improve transportation in one of
the most congested areas of the country," said Whirley. "Critical to the
success of this project is that the private sector is willing to share
in the risk of funding the improvement, which otherwise would be
practically impossible if VDOT had to rely on traditional funding sources."

Fluor-Transurban proposed a $913 million project to improve 56 miles of
I-95 from the 14th Street Bridge in the Washington D.C. area to
Massaponax. The key feature includes adding a third lane to the
existing high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-95 in Northern
Virginia. These lanes would be HOV and high occupancy toll (HOT)
lanes. The project would extend the HOV/HOT lanes to Massaponax and
provide a seamless connection to the Capital Beltway by way of Phase 8
of the Springfield Interchange.

The project would be financed primarily through tolls. According to the
proposal, a variable toll rate would apply to vehicles carrying fewer
than three people each on HOV/HOT lanes. Carpoolers, buses and other
transit operators would use the lanes for free.

VDOT will first negotiate an interim agreement to require
Fluor-Transurban to complete an in-depth traffic and revenue study. The
study will determine if HOT lanes are economically viable and help to
set a fair and equitable toll structure. The interim agreement also
will require the development of a toll operation and enforcement plan.

Should negotiations be successful and an interim agreement reached, a
comprehensive agreement would follow. The agreement would set the
framework for future project decisions such as design and
construction.

No improvements can be made to the I-95/395 corridor unless they go
through the required state and federal environmental laws and
regulations. Environmental review involves additional public
participation."

Sincerely,
Michele

quote:

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Originally posted by NoSUV
[br]

quote:

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Originally posted by HOV3Slug
[br]NoSUV,
I-66 doesn’t have slugging. Let’s see, those people live in a freakin’ nightmare M-F still. Unless you (i.e, we) go to high-speed rail right up the 95 slugging is the answer, not the problem.

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H3S: Why do you suppose that Gov elect Kaine is choosing the I-66 corridor as a transportation focus area? I think it's because it doesn't have slugging - and therefore is a "more deserving" candidate for transportation funding. Again, if slugging had never started, don't you think more attention (and funds) would be diverted to 95/395?

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Dick Boyd's opinion. If slugging had never started, there would be no development on Shirley Highway corridor. Virginia did not want an Interstate in this area. Virginia was concentrating on the Bay Tunnel.

Virginia's involvement with federal goovernment was more with DOD through the Navy in Norfolk, the Marines and FBI at Quantico, the Army at Fort Belvoir. The Pentagon, Coast Guard stations and the like.
My thoughts at the time were that Virginia was afraid of an invasion by Yankees, or worse yet a Marylandization of Virginia. To some the feds were not paying their way, so why encourage more? But that is ancient history. Even those history notes are being rewritten.

For a sanity check, observe how the money that does come to 95/395 is used. Springfield Interchange for instance. Would that money have been better spent on two outer beltways to divert through traffic?

Have you recruited a slug today?

dickboyd@aol.com

quote:

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Originally posted by BabblinMan
[br]don't yell at me! stop it! your not the boss of me, don't tell me waht to do.
i told you to stop following me
get outta my head! quit it, eat the frog...go get your sister outta the toilet

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Congressman - Keep up the great work!