State wins grant to extend E-ZPass Express Lanes to Fredericksburg

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is celebrating today, announcing the state won a $165 million federal FASTLANE grant to improve transportation along Interstate 95 and 395. 

The 95 E-ZPass Express Lanes will be extended from North Stafford to Fredericksburg as part of the project. 

Here’s more from McAulliffe’s press release: 

The $165 million FASTLANE grant will leverage $565 million in private investments and $710 million in other transportation funds to:

Build 14 miles of new rail track to improve reliability and capacity for freight, commuter, and passenger rail service, including phase I of the project to unlock rail congestion at Long Bridge

Extend 95 Express Lanes for seven miles north to the Potomac River and improve access to the Pentagon

Extend the 95 Express Lanes 10 miles south to Fredericksburg to alleviate backups at the current southern terminus

Construct a new southbound bridge on I-95 across the Rappahannock River

Provide dedicated on-going reinvestment in expanded bus service in the corridor to ensure that all populations have access to jobs, education and health care services

Add new commuter parking, technology upgrades and truck parking along the corridor

Build pavement for autonomous vehicle enhancement; this will provide the infrastructure to test and deploy driverless cars

Acquire the S-line, an abandoned rail corridor that runs from North Carolina to the Richmond area, from CSX to provide public ownership of a corridor key for future Southeast High Speed Rail.

States Delegate Mark Dudenhefer: 

“I am appreciative for the collaborative effort to secure this funding and that we will see the process moving forward on transportation improvements. Now that we have secured this funding we need to roll up our sleeves and move dirt on the projects so our citizens see the results and benefits.”

Also from State Senator Scott Surovell:

GREAT news for commuters in Eastern Prince William and Stafford Counties. Governor Terry McAuliffe announced… https://t.co/oeSMAnwj0I

— Scott Surovell (@ssurovell) July 5, 2016