New Interim Agreement on HOT Signed

I always thought NoSUV was a female.

Fight them all, lose them all. Once upon a time, Bob asked about allies -- well after creating enemies. If hybrid owners can afford the cost differential for the purpose of using the express lanes, do you honestly think that a toll will cause them to blink? Eliminating the exemption only fuels the desire for a toll for them.

Sucks when you don't like the problem you helped to create.

Do we all agree that NoSUV is now, officially, a raving lunatic? I mean, I can barely understand what points he's making. It sounds like he thinks ridesharers are selfish, opposition to hype-breds CAUSED Fluor's toll road proposal, and fighting against hype-bred congestion reduces the incentive to rideshare.

Huh? Do I need more coffee or something?

One of the tactics that they used in the HOT meetings and in the literature is saying that people won't really pay the toll on the entire 50 miles, or even the 25 miles from Woodbridge. Rather, you get people jumping in and out of the HOT lanes every few miles depending on their needs and financial wherewithal. So even if the average is 40 cents per mile, the standard person would only typically pay 8-10 bucks.

Unfortunately, if people jump in and out, that causes traffic jams in both the HOV and main lanes.

I am sure they will also say that, even if it goes to $1.50 southbound at Springfield in the pm, if that is what the market demand is --that it is fair. And also who could object even if the Lexus lanes are in there, because you are getting infrastructure paid for by the wealthy. (Then they will say that it is the entire cross section of society , not the wealthy).

I have been around and around with this but the bottom lines is they are going to screw up the incentive for HOV, and when that happens we are in deep doo doo.

Bob

You are exactly correct on the "average". The cost during rush hour will be much, much higher than 27 cents a mile. It may be 40 cents as you suggest or even higher. What consistently amazes me is how this is not a political issue in Stafford or Fredericksburg. I mean, speaker Howell, of Stafford, continues to block funding for NoVa road improvements, which leaves oddball ideas like HOT as the only alternative to road financing. And Stafford keeps electing him over and over. Of course, when its drivers are paying 16.00 each way to commute to DC, they will be outraged, but he will be long gone by then. The time to voice your disgust and exercise political power is NOW. Write speaker Howell or your Fredericksburg delegates and tell them you can NOT afford to spend 32.00 a day to travel on what should be a public road!!!