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spidermonkey View Drop Down
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    Posted: 08 Aug 2007 at 7:29pm
I've initiated the petition. It can be accessed at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/NOTsoHOT/petition.html

I've made the following minor editorial edits:

1. Reworded introductory phrase to speak to the I-95/I-395/I-495 "corridor" (also, other references to either I-95 or I-395 now speak to the "corridor")

2. Taken NoSUV's 2007/08/08 11:52 editorial suggestions regarding "Commonwealth of Virginia" and "toll"

3. Tightened up #9 slightly (the wording was a little wandering)

I'm going to start another thread announcing the online petition. Thanks to everyone for making this into an effort that will at least help us feel as if we are a positive part of the process!

Now we've got to get the word out somehow. Thanks in advance to all the hands and feet that are willing to help.

Now, here's to seeing what the little guys and gals can do...

spidermonkey
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NoSUV Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 2007 at 3:28pm
quote:
Originally posted by Bob
[br]You may be a newcomer who is unaware of the fact that the above member is a troll and a spammer. He sits around and trolls and spams this site becaue he hates slugging. Any time a post comes in that he doesn't like, he "covers" it with spam. How juvenile. So I really wouldn't give any credence to what he says. Or, better yet, just do the opposite of what he says if you want to promote HOV.




Bob,

Are you saying that the VA General Assembly DIDN'T vote 100% to extend the hybrid exemption? Or is it YOU that should not receive credence. After all, when was the last time YOU posted something factual?
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AveMaria View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AveMaria Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 2007 at 1:27pm
Spidermokey,

I will print and distribute flyers at the Tacket's Mill parking lot and will attempt to leave work early on Friday (if the petition is completed) and start handing them out at Horner. I hope that the slugs don't mind having flyers put on their windshields. [8)]
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 2007 at 12:16pm
You may be a newcomer who is unaware of the fact that the above member is a troll and a spammer. He sits around and trolls and spams this site becaue he hates slugging. Any time a post comes in that he doesn't like, he "covers" it with spam. How juvenile. So I really wouldn't give any credence to what he says. Or, better yet, just do the opposite of what he says if you want to promote HOV.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NoSUV Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 2007 at 11:52am
spidermonkey -
Told you Bob was unwilling to compromise! Leave your #10 alone as Bob's paranoia is reflected in your compromise wording in #5 second sentence.

Some editorial comments:

Where you have put "State of Virginia" change to "Commonwealth of Virginia". Statement 1 (three times), statement 3, and 9.

Statements 3 and 6 will be answered by VDOT with the term "congestion based pricing." In other words, their intent is to raise the variable toll in the HOT lanes until it becomes too expensive for non-exempt vehicles. If crowded at $2/mile, change to $4. If that doesn't work, keep on going higher. Imagine $100/mile for non-exempt vehicles. SOV is effectively out.

Recommend changing statement 9 "HOT" (two times) to "toll".
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jody Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 2007 at 11:15am
Thanks to Spidermonkey (and others) for their contributions. Please remember to post the link so we can sign. I plan to print a copy of the petition with the link to give to drivers/riders every morning/evening. I will also be leaving this on doorsteps in the Springfield neighborhoods.
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Bob View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 2007 at 11:10am
Under 10.


" Single occupancy vehicles which are not environmentally friendly should not be able to buy their way into special transportation access. We need to promote more carpools, not single occupant cars."

Delete this part. It implies that "environmentally friendly" vehicles should be able to buy their way in but no one else. In other words, you are promoting a HOT system in which HOV is free but otherwise only HYBRIDS get to buy their way in as SOV.

NO, we want an HOV in which all vehicles are HOV. Otherwise it will defeat the purpose of opposing HOT lanes. We are opposing HOT lanes because there is insufficient capacity. Limiting the toll vehicles to hybrids would just delay the jamming of the lanes by a couple of years.
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spidermonkey View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spidermonkey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 2007 at 8:57am
Thanks for the review, Achall. It should be available tonight around 8 EDT. I wanted it to sit for 24 hours. I'll will post a note on this board when it is available.

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achall View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote achall Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 2007 at 8:41am
spidermonkey - looks great. When do you expect the petition to be available for signing?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spidermonkey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2007 at 7:16pm
quote:
Originally posted by Cavvie
Let's move out and let the cards fall where they may.



-------------

In the interest of fair & full disclosure, here is what I plan on going with (see below). Points of change from Cavvie's original 2007/08/06, 13:56 reword:

#10. Cavvies' 2007/08/07, 16:47 reword
#8. My 2007/08/06, 14:40 (minor editorial) reword
#5. My final combined 2007/08/06, 15:14 reword (which does include Jody's point) with a new minor editorial reword changing "are" to "contractually remain"

Thanks to Fluor/VDOT for all of the motivation.
Thanks to Bob for the start, the thorough editorial rewrite from Cavvie, some input from Sheepish and Jody, and yes, even the some of the "bash & clash" from Bob and NoSUV helped out too, I think---Hey, let's work together to stop this thing cold before it can even get any steam!

Here is what I plan on going with.

I am going to leave posted for 24 hours before initiating the petition online.

AveMaria: Any kind of help that you are proposing will be useful to the cause. We'll have to think about the best way to go about this. Definitely someway getting the word out to slugs & drivers in the NOVA area will be the first step. Getting the word out to other friends & family down state will be necessary to get some momentum going statewide.

Are there any lawyers with their "ears" on that might have some knowledge about the legality of turning public roadways into privately owned and operated ventures???? Seems like this would be something that would stop this thing dead in its tracks.

Anyways...look for something tomorrow night. I'll post when a petition becomes available.

-------------

We the undersigned strongly oppose the I-95/395 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane project for the following reasons:

1. We object to the secretive nature of the Public-Private Partnership negotiations between the State of Virginia and private consortiums. All citizens across the entire State of Virginia deserve to be informed of all the terms of any agreement entered into between the State of Virginia and any private consortium under the Public Private Partnership Act. The citizens of the State of Virginia deserve to have any and all questions related to this conversion answered fully and honestly by both their elected officials and VDOT officials prior to any contractual vehicle being executed between the State of Virginia and any private consortium in a public forum. The information should also contain details for understanding the implications to all citizens, financial or other, should this Private-Public partnership not meet the requirements of either party. Without terms of agreement, details, and the opportunity to vote on potential financial repercussions of a failed partnership, we question whether VDOT is acting in the best interest for all citizens of Virginia.

2. It should be against Federal and State law to convert an existing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane, paid for with Federal and/or State tax revenue, to a private corporation/partnership for HOT with no reimbursement to the taxpayer for the initial cost of building these lanes.

3. We object to having a private consortium being transferred the authority to control a portion of the most critical interstate system in the U.S. with no input or opportunity to vote by the citizens of the State of Virginia into the law which authorizes such a transfer.

4. There is inadequate capacity on 395 to support the addition of thousands of single occupant toll vehicles and re-striping will not add capacity due to bottlenecks.

5. We believe that within a short time after the lanes become operational, a move will be made by the private consortium to convert the HOV-3 to HOV-4 and/or begin charging tolls to vehicles originally exempt from paying tolls. We insist that vehicles carrying 3 or more people (including public transportation) contractually remain exempt from paying tolls in the HOT lanes at all times, for the life of the HOT system.

6. We are concerned that this system will harm HOV by crowding the corridor, and in so doing will have long term negative consequences on commute times, air pollution, and parking.

7. Technology proposed by the private consortium that is anticipated for enforcing the HOT lanes is not currently viable and will require other more reliable and much more expensive and time consuming methods (i.e., manned toll booths for visual inspection, state police) that will result in significantly degraded commute times.

8. The imposition of such a system on the most highly traveled corridor on the East Coast and on the only viable commute option for Washington DC area workers is an unfair tax especially on residents living in the area.

9. Other options should be explored and the results provided to the citizens of the State of Virginia on alternatives including having the private consortium purchase right-of-way and add a regular lane to I95 for the purpose of HOT or conversion of one of the regular lanes of I-95 to HOT on a reimbursable basis by the private consortium.

10. Virginia must preserve the most successful HOV system in the country. Transportation efforts must have a neutral or improving effect on the region's air quality. Single occupancy vehicles which are not environmentally friendly should not be able to buy their way into special transportation access. We need to promote more carpools, not single occupant cars.

11. We will explicitly campaign and vote against any local official, or State of Virginia official who supports any public-private transportation agreement that does not adhere to these guidelines and in particular, this inherently unfair transportation option.
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