HOT LANES PROPOSED TOLLS WOW

The current HOV system is, effectively, based on the honor system. If you started collecting tolls, you could funnel toll traffic through a booth while allowing HOV traffic to bypass the booth, and using the state police to watch the HOV flow and enforce the restriction much as they currently do....

The minute the lanes clog up, Fluor will tell VDOT it can no longer make money on the toll roads because people won't pay the toll if the road is clogged, and they need to end the free ride of the lowly slugs. That will be the beginning of the end for slugging as we know it. Who really expects VDOT to side with US in this situation. The next thing they do is charge really really high tolls, the kind only the rich can afford, to keep the HOV lanes moving. The result is a 90 minute commute on the main lanes from Woodbridge to DC and a 25 minute ride for the wealthy.

Eric,

Kafka's Feb. 13 article in potomacnews.com captures some of the political mis-direction on HOT lanes from supporters.

It is interesting that even though those quoted say they are exploring all options, this article is very pro-toll.

"This says to the federal government, 'we are serious about looking at alternatives so when you have a new project, you can also consider tolling,' " Lingamfelter said. "It decreases the burden on the shoulders of hardworking Virginians."

This is an outright lie! The burden will land squarely on my shoulders and on those of every other comuter.

"Tolls capture revenue from out of state travelers,..."

A statewide gas tax would also capture revenue from out of state travelers, and it would distribute this transportation cost burden over a much wider group of users thus reducing the impact on any one group. A statewide gas tax also restores some equity in the state's transportation cost distribution between NOVA (which has carried an unfairly large burden for too long) and the rest of the state. But of course, politicians don't like to promote taxes, even when they make sense.

Thanks goodness, "Two Northern Virginia senators were at first wary of the idea for fears that tolls would be placed on the Capital Beltway and Interstate 66.

Charging commuters going to Washington, D.C., or Maryland a daily toll could be "brutal," said Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, R-Vienna."

The sentiment is right, but misplaced,

"But those interstates could not be considered under this measure because there are already talks of charging tolls on those roads, said Barbara Reese, chief financial officer for the Virginia Department of Transportation."

"Plans are under way to build High Occupancy Toll lanes on Interstates 95, 395 and 495. Another study is under way to determine if congestion tolls would benefit traffic flow on I-66, Reese said."

Barbara Reese is a scoundrel! The CFO of VDOT has convinced everyone that tolls are the only way to improve transportation in NOVA. In actuallity, fiscal responsibility would be a good start! What has happened to our tax dollars that were supposed to be earmarked for transportation? Tolls may help her balance her books, but it is the tax payer who gets screwed in the end!

Thanks for the update Eric, nice to know you read the board (and post to it!)

Thanks for the info Eric.