I-95 HOT Lanes Public Meetings Planned

North Stafford, Va. — Officials are taking one step closer to building High Occupancy Toll lanes on Interstate 95.

The proposed lanes would convert the HOV lanes between Dumfries and Edsall Road in Alexandria to toll lanes, requiring drivers with fewer than three occupants inside their cars to pay to use the lanes 24 hours per day.

Each of the three meetings will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. with the first scheduled for Monday, Sept. 26, at the Botts Fire Hall at 1306 F Street in Woodbridge, the second at Waterford at Springfield, at 6715 Commerce Street in Springfield, and the third Thursday, Sept. 29, at North Stafford High School at 839 Garrisonville Road in North Stafford.

The I-95 Transit and TDM plan will identify potential transit and TDM improvements along the I-95 corridor to address the anticipated increase in congestion. The plan will provide recommendations only and will not provide a financial plan to advance improvements The plan will be posted on Sept. 26 atwww.drpt.virginia.gov.
-Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman 

Transportation officials say HOT lanes on I-95 would provide drivers with seamless access to HOT lanes now being built on the Capital Beltway between Springfield and Tysons Corner and provide the extension of express lanes from Dumfries to Stafford County.

If approved, the lanes will be paid for under Virginia’s Public Private Transportation Act with money from both the state and private firms, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Until February, the scope of the I-95 HOT lanes project also included I-395, but the state dropped plans to extend HOT lanes to the Pentagon after Arlington filed a lawsuit calling for further review of the project.

Oral and written comments will be accepted at the hearings. Comments regarding the project design and environmental analysis should be sent to John Lynch, P.E., Regional Transportation Program Director, Virginia Megaprojects, 6363 Walker Lane, Suite 500, Alexandria, VA 22310 or to [email protected] by Oct. 14, 2011 with “I-95 Joint Meetings” in the subject line.

Comments regarding the I-95 Transit and TDM plan can be sent to Public Information Office, DRPT, 600 E. Main Street, Suite 2102, Richmond, VA 23219 or to [email protected] by Oct. 26, 2011.
-Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman