Proposal pitched for HOV |
Post Reply | Page <1 345 |
Author | |
wdossel
New Slug Joined: 02 Jan 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
quote: Absolutely concur -- and we need to be more vocal as it appears the Fairfax County supervisors voiced their approval of this wretched concept last night... - Will |
|
SlugBuddy
New Slug Joined: 21 May 2003 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
As I said before, we need to stand up and fight this. This will kill slugging and we will be left paying these stupid tolls.
|
|
Bob
New Slug Joined: 14 Dec 2001 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Here is the letter I just sent to several representatives. You are welcome to send it also.
December 8, 2003 Sirs: This letter is to express my concern about the proposal before VDOT to convert the I95/395 HOV lane into a HOT lane. As you know, there are two regional proposals that have been submitted. One is for adding lanes to the Virginia Beltway and the other is to convert the 95/395 lanes to HOT lanes. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has apparently just endorsed the beltway proposal. My concern is that Prince William County or other jurisdictions may endorse the 95/395 proposal. Conversion of the existing HOV system on 95/395 would cause congestion and drastically reduce the incentive for mass transit in this corridor. I have studied this proposal in detail. It would re- stripe the existing roadway up to Springfield to make three lanes. The portion of the HOV lane inside the beltway would remain as it is. This is a recipe for a massive bottleneck at Springfield where three lanes would go down to two. A key assumption of any proposal to convert 95/395 is that there is adequate unused capacity to do this. This is an incorrect assumption. HOV usage has soared in the past few years and traffic is routinely heavy. There is no room to allow thousands of single passenger vehicles into this roadway, especially inside the beltway. And a few years down the road... no way! Another factor that is never mentioned in any of the newspaper articles is the impact on regional air pollution if we reduce the incentive to carpool. As people give up on the HOV system, then we are back to where most other cities are without a viable HOV system and air pollution would be much worse. Finally, what are the implications of letting the private sector fund such projects? It seems to me that state and local governments would be giving up control in the event of problems. In other words, the private sector would be free to set tolls or do anything they want to maximize revenue, and I don't believe the local goverments could do much about it. And if (when) it fouls up HOV, it would be too late to go back since the companies would have invested millions of dollars. Sincerely, |
|
tulipgirl67
New Slug Joined: 18 Sep 2002 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
HOT lanes will not help manage growth and congestion.
If the HOT lanes make commuting easier for those willing to pay the toll, then more people will just move south to Stafford County and beyond. Then we will have more traffic and more congestion. Actually a commute involving a little hassle (such as we have now) may be a good thing for Stafford. It won't kill growth, but it may make some people think twice about moving there. |
|
Post Reply | Page <1 345 |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |