VDOT SIGNS INTERIM AGREEMENT/FLUOR HOT LANES |
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getmehome pweeze
Master Slug Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 501 |
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Posted: 26 Oct 2006 at 3:27pm |
VDOT SIGNS INTERIM AGREEMENT WITH PRIVATE FIRM
TO BUILD I-95/395 HOT LANES Project to Use Variable Tolls to Improve Congestion RICHMOND — Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Commissioner David Ekern signed today the interim agreement that advances a private-sector proposal to bring innovative high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes to Interstates 95 and 395. The interim agreement with Fluor-Transurban under the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995 will advance the required preliminary work on the project. The proposed 56-mile HOT lanes project between Massaponax and Arlington will expand the existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and will extend HOV lanes south to Massaponax. HOT lanes allow drivers of low-occupancy vehicles to pay a toll to use HOV lanes. Carpoolers, buses and other transit operators would use the lanes for free. “This is a significant milestone as VDOT looks to find creative ways to address congestion in the Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia regions. HOT lanes, and the additional transit infrastructure incorporated into this interim agreement, will give motorists new choices to shave time from their commute,” said Ekern, who was appointed as VDOT commissioner in September. “One of my top priorities is to work with the private sector and our federal, state and local partners to speed innovative 21st century traffic-management improvements to the congested areas of the state.” The interim agreement requires Fluor-Transurban to complete required preliminary engineering work, an operation plan including enhancements to transit infrastructure such as park-and-ride lots and bus stations, and an in-depth traffic and revenue study. The results of this work will determine if the HOT lanes are operationally and economically viable and will help to set tolls that will manage congestion. Private partners will use the toll revenue to finance construction and operation of the HOT lanes, as well as to provide funding for additional transit in the corridor. Additional provisions in the agreement ensure that new technology added for this project is compatible with VDOT technology for both tolling and operations. Also included are the construction of six park-and-ride facilities and enhancements to 12 bus stations along the corridor. “Finding new ways to improve the quality of life for Northern Virginia residents is an absolute necessity in an area growing as quickly as we are,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly. “There is no single solution to the congestion problem, but incorporating a project like this can be a powerful tool in our efforts to address Northern Virginia congestion.” The interim agreement also outlines the federal environmental review process that must be completed before construction. No proposed improvements can be made to the I-95/395 corridor unless they go through the required state and federal environmental laws and regulations. This process involves additional public participation opportunities. In September, Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer established a Transit/HOV Stakeholder Committee to provide local jurisdictions and transit providers opportunities for feedback on information collected during the environmental and feasibility studies. The project will also address recent decisions by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission to move a large number of federal employees to locations within the I-95/I-395 corridor. The design of the HOT-lanes system will incorporate congestion-management and infrastructure improvements taking into account the areas where BRAC improvements are planned. “One of the worst bottlenecks on I-95 is the where the existing HOV lanes end,” said Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Gibbons. “We need to move quickly to address this bottleneck to keep our economy moving and protect the quality of life for citizens of the Fredericksburg region. This is especially important as the BRAC decisions move thousands of additional military and civilian jobs to this region.” A comprehensive agreement will follow the interim agreement if milestones are met. The comprehensive agreement will be negotiated by VDOT, working with various technical expertises, including transit operations. For more information on the I-95/I-395 HOT lanes project, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/ppta-I-95_I-395HOTLanes.asp or http://www.faster95.com. GMHP was hea! |
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getmehome pweeze
Master Slug Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 501 |
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I sent an email to Fluor/Transurban, regarding the impact of toll lanes on HOV3 users, lets see if I get a response. Supposedly we would ride for free, drivers would be requested to have an ezpass type device in their cars. If it is like ezpass, which I have and love, I pay 1$ a month just to have that little white box on my car. Nothing is free anymore. The link at the bottom of my posting above brings you to the Fluor website and it glorify's the 95 toll lanes, making it seem the like the miracle cure to traffic congestion. We'll see. Looks like we have three more years of HOV free. (yes, I am having a slow day at work) GMHP was hea! |
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