WTH?? NOVA's I-95/ Rt 1 can't expand to 3+ lanes??? (Hampton, Fredericksburg: taxes, living in)

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by NOVA_guy

Traffic is always bad, especially on weekends but this past week and a half has been unbelievably bad, it's not usually this bad. It took me 2 hours to go 20 miles. But I also agree with what spencgr said, for most of us in the area you just get used to it honestly. And with the HOV lane extension finishing up by the end of 2014 that should certainly help.

Aren't those going to be toll lanes?

[NOVA_guy]

I've read conflicting reports. Some say it will be toll lanes and others say it won't.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

Aren't those going to be toll lanes?

Virginia Megaprojects - I-95 HOV/HOT Lanes

The 95 Express Lanes will keep traffic moving by using dynamic tolling that will adjust tolls based on real-time traffic conditions, video technology capable of identifying accidents, and a series of electronic signs to communicate with drivers and state troopers to ensure enforcement. This will help you maintain travel speeds, make travel times more predictable, and significantly reduce violators.

[farplaner]

Since they call those 95 express lanes I'd expect them to work exactly the same as the 495 express lanes... (HOV rides for free, others pay tolls)

[airjay75]

I think there are a couple of interesting things to note about the new 95 Express Lanes. One, they will only extend to Edsall Rd. This means, for example, that anyone traveling with only 1 or 2 people during morning restricted hours can pay tolls to get them to Edsall Rd., but then it's back to the regular lanes and vice versa in the evening. Two, unlike the current setup where anyone can use the HOV lanes outside of restricted hours, you will now have to either pay the toll or have 3+ people to use the express lanes at all times. I think it will be interesting to see how these changes affect traffic patterns. For example, I routinely see a long line of cars around 6 pm on the Franconia-Springfield Parkway waiting to get in the southbound HOV lanes because that is the time the 3+ requirement ends. Once the lanes become HOT lanes, I imagine that 6 pm line of cars waiting to get onto the HOV lanes will disappear. A welcome development from my point of view, but I imagine not so much for those who wait until 6 pm specifically so they can use the HOV lanes.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by airjay75

I think there are a couple of interesting things to note about the new 95 Express Lanes. One, they will only extend to Edsall Rd. This means, for example, that anyone traveling with only 1 or 2 people during morning restricted hours can pay tolls to get them to Edsall Rd., but then it's back to the regular lanes and vice versa in the evening. Two, unlike the current setup where anyone can use the HOV lanes outside of restricted hours, you will now have to either pay the toll or have 3+ people to use the express lanes at all times. I think it will be interesting to see how these changes affect traffic patterns. For example, I routinely see a long line of cars around 6 pm on the Franconia-Springfield Parkway waiting to get in the southbound HOV lanes because that is the time the 3+ requirement ends. Once the lanes become HOT lanes, I imagine that 6 pm line of cars waiting to get onto the HOV lanes will disappear. A welcome development from my point of view, but I imagine not so much for those who wait until 6 pm specifically so they can use the HOV lanes.

I wonder if the non-HOV traffic now handled by the HOV lanes after 6pm will stay in the regular lanes instead of paying the toll. I can see that happening, making the traffic in the regular main lanes even worse for a longer period of time.

I use the HOV lanes once in a blue moon because they are a convenient access to 95 from the Parkway during non HOV hours or my family of 3 is headed somewhere and it happens to be rush hour. I don't think I would pay to use them.

[ChristineVA]

I think the new HOT lanes will make the regular lanes of 95 worse. During non-HOV hours, the HOV lanes are pretty heavily used by all (or at least by the locals who are savvy enough to use them). It definitely will make a difference.

[Fundman]

The bottleneck occurs in Fredericksburg. Going north or south, traffic dramatically improves once you get past Fredericksburg. The Saturday before Christmas was a nightmare on I95. The traffic trying to get on to I95 south at Route 17 was over two miles long. That was before you even got on I95.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Fundman

The bottleneck occurs in Fredericksburg. Going north or south, traffic dramatically improves once you get past Fredericksburg. The Saturday before Christmas was a nightmare on I95. The traffic trying to get on to I95 south at Route 17 was over two miles long. That was before you even got on I95.

The Occoquan is another bottleneck. The interstate loses a lane there. Oh, and people just seemto have problems going over bridges.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by LookintomovetoVa

OMG!!!! - So I just took a drive with my brother to Northern Virginia - mainly Woodbridge/Dumfries/Occiquan area. And the traffic - RIIIIIDICULOUS. Seriously what is the deal with 2 lanes everywhere and min of 2/3 lanes of I-95/rt 1 dumping into the D.C. metro areas??? I have never seen such craziness. If Charlotte/Raleigh/Atlanta/Richmond has lane expansion, and Fredricksburg, what in the WORLD is NOVA waiting on to expand lanes???

Oh and what's the deal with Va drivers who sit in the left lane going 35mph? Is the law in VA slow traffic to the left and pass to the right? As soon as we got out of the state and into N.C it seems like everything got back to "NORMAL" and traffic flowed and slow drivers moved to the right.

Somebody, please, help me understand the NOVA traffic craziness?
#frustratedalready# #NOVAtrafficisbust#

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