Overview

Project Update

On August 17, 2009 VDOT Chief Engineer Malcom Kerley wrote a letter notifying the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Fredericksburg Metropolitan Planning Organization that VDOT and the private partners would not reach a commercial close on the I-95/395 HOV/Bus/HOT Lanes as originally planned in August. Click here to read this letter.

Public Hearing Update

A location and design public hearing was held in February, 2009 to receive citizen comments on the northern section of this project (Pentagon to Garrisonville Rd.). Responses to those comments are located in two documents listed below.

Facts at a Glance

Project will be built in two sections. The northern section will add another HOV lane for 28 miles from the Pentagon to Dumfries. The southern section will build two new HOV lanes another 28 miles south to Spotsylvania County.
Cost: Under negotiation
Start date: Mid 2010 pending commercial and financial agreement (Northern section)
Estimated completion: TBD

What's Being Done

High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes are limited access lanes that provide free access to HOV-3+, transit and motorcycles. Other vehicles that don't meet the occupancy requirements can pay a toll to use the lanes for a faster and more reliable travel option.

With this proposed project, HOT lanes would enhance the existing HOV system in Northern Virginia. The 56-mile project would add a third lane to the existing 28 miles of HOV lanes between Arlington and Dumfries, and would include building two new HOV lanes for an additional 28 miles south to Spotsylvania County. The HOT lanes for this project would allow buses, carpools, vanpools and motorcycles to ride in the new lanes for free – just as they do now. Vehicles carrying one or two people could either travel in the regular free lanes, or pay a toll to ride in the HOT lanes when they need a faster trip. In addition, thousands of new Park & Ride lot spaces would be built.

Public Involvement and Environmental Review

The northern section of this project (I-95/395 from the Pentagon to Garrisonville Rd.) is currently in the project development stage. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is evaluating the southern section of the project (I-95 through Spotsylvania County) as part of the environmental review process. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host several public information meetings to solicit citizen input as part of the public involvement process. Project history timeline has additional information. Click here for a full listing of documents.

Partners

This project is made possible through a public-private partnership between (VDOT) and (Fluor-Transurban). The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is also playing an active role in the project, which will provide opportunities for expanded public transportation in the corridor.

For More Information

Go to VirginiaHOTLanes.com for more detailed project and construction information.

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Project Benefits

If this proposed project moves forward, the I-95/395 HOT lanes will connect to the I-495 Capital Beltway HOT lanes, creating a free-flowing transit network from Spotsylvania to employment destinations at the Pentagon, Alexandria, Tysons Corner and the Dulles Corridor. These HOT lanes would provide a reliable, dependable commute, while also encouraging transit, carpooling and vanpooling.

Proposed benefits include:

Transit improvements, such as new buses, stations and routes
Better congestion management
Expanded Park & Ride lots
New access and exit points to serve key activity centers
Enhanced incident response
Increased law enforcement and new technologies to keep violators out of the lanes
Contribution to the regional network of HOV/HOT lanes

Go to VirginiaHOTLanes.com for more detailed project and construction information.

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Lane Closures

Currently there is no planned construction activity for this project since it is in the environmental review phase.

Generally, no lane closures will occur during rush hours – 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays. There are no lane closures on holiday weekends.

Go to www.511virginia.org for the latest traffic conditions.

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