What to say tonight... hm...

We are granted but three minutes (0:03) each to speak. If you are part of a group, God forbid, your group is allowed only three minutes (0:03) for a single representative. Maybe these are normal rules for such public comment sessions, but I still feel stifled, like a sponge dipped in peanut butter.

So what can we say in three minutes? Damn little, for sure.

Here's my Top Ten:

1. inability to ensure the promise of free HOV
2. double-taxation to add a single substandard lane on an existing road
3. increased congestion of the lanes caused by more entrances and exits
4. permanent north-end tie-ups since the bridges and Pentagon exits aren't being widened
5. permanent funneling of PWC residents' money into the coffers of a TX and an Australian company
6. a minimum cost of $4,680 per year (based on a 30-mile commute at $.30 per mile)
7. transfer of a public asset to a private firm for 60 years
8. compromised safety with reduced lane width and no breakdown shoulder
9. statement by VDOT official that they need to look at how to guarantee sufficient room for toll-payers by limiting free HOV use
10. statement by head of DC-area transportation authority that free HOV on the toll roads is NOT guaranteed despite repeated promises
11. no-compete clauses, no indication of state role in setting toll rates, no guarantee funds will be used in our area
12. PWC and Springfield citizens will pay for extension of toll road to Stafford and F'burg
13. abdication of responsibility by elected officials at every level to provide solutions for ALL citizens, not just those of means

OK, so I can't count. Sue me.

Whose got #14?

Speaking of the meeting - for those who cannot go - here is the info to submit your comments:

MEETING ON HOT LANES
There will be a public meeting about High Occupancy Toll lanes at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the A.J. Ferlazzo Building at 15941 Donald Curtis Drive in Woodbridge.

The public can offer comments during the meeting where transportation experts will evaluate two proposals to build the HOT lanes from Northern Virginia to the Fredericksburg area.

During the comment session, people can speak for three minutes each. Groups should designate one person to speak on their behalf.

The two proposals are from Clark Construction and Shirley Contracting Company, or Clark/Shirley, and Fluor Virginia Inc. and Transurban USA Inc. or Fluor-Transurban.

The meeting agenda includes a financial evaluation of the proposals, a regional traffic analysis, a public comment session and a panel discussion.

The proposals were submitted under the Public-Private Transportation Act, which allows VDOT to partner with private entities to build roads

Those who cannot attend the meeting can submit their comments to www.virginiadot.org. The direct link is
www.virginiadot.org/projects/ppta-I-95_I-395HOTLanes.asp. They can also send comments to the Virginia Department of Transportation, Innovative Project Delivery Team, attention: Jay Loftus, 1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219