I-95 HOT Lanes aka "Toll road" (Dale City, Springfield: tax, to live)

[afdinatl]

I wonder if any companies will purchase passes for their employees? If they charge around $15 each way that will be $600 per month

[StandBack-DoorsClosing]

It may be too early to confirm this, but yesterday afternoon seemed like a bad omen: regular lanes of 95S below the beltway were backing up in the 2 o'clock hour instead of the 3 o'clock hour. It could have just been holiday travelers.

People who live far out have always had one card they could play to make traffic more bearable if they were willing: get up really early. I think now that card may have been taken away (or at least changed to be "really, really early").

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I can't imagine that anyone, realistically, could afford daily use. It was never proposed as a "value" either. The cost per mile will be at least what it is on 495 and it's not cheap. Only for people with money to throw away.

There are a lot of people in this area with other people's money to throw away. I am sure there will be a large number passing this cost on in expenses and billable hours.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

Haha. Right! We've been here 22 years and had never heard of "Turkeycock" before.

(Teehee. He said "Turkeycock". )

I really don't know what genius at Transurban thought it was a good idea to call it "Turkeycock." Couldn't make it anymore obvious they're from Australia, because no DC native would ever call it that when clearly you could call it a much simpler "Edsall Road."

This definitely isn't for daily use by the average commuter but it can be a huge boon for carpoolers and bus users in the Stafford/Fredericksburg area that can benefit from the 9 mile extension. I'm really dissappointed that Stafford isn't trying to take advantage of the new lanes and set up a commuter bus system like every other county in NOVA already has.

[ReblTeen84]

Originally Posted by StandBack-DoorsClosing

It may be too early to confirm this, but yesterday afternoon seemed like a bad omen: regular lanes of 95S below the beltway were backing up in the 2 o'clock hour instead of the 3 o'clock hour. It could have just been holiday travelers.

People who live far out have always had one card they could play to make traffic more bearable if they were willing: get up really early. I think now that card may have been taken away (or at least changed to be "really, really early").

It was like this last year too between Christmas and New Years - no traffic in the morning, but traffic in the afternoon was a nightmare from 2-3pm right through the normal rush hour.

[NOVA_guy]

Originally Posted by gomason

I'm really dissappointed that Stafford isn't trying to take advantage of the new lanes and set up a commuter bus system like every other county in NOVA already has.

I used to live in Stafford and this is something I never understood as well. There are so many things the county has refused to take part in or ignored over the years that could definitely help commuters like how Prince William, Fairfax and Loudoun have.

It's odd, most counties would take advantage of opportunities like that as it helps with growth but they don't really seem interested.

[greekchampion04]

took the lanes heading north today (with 2 slugs) all the way from end to end. left stafford at 7am, lanes were vacant until about exit 160, but still very empty. toll was set at ~$6 from Stafford to Springfield and then ~$2.50 from springfield to edsall rd.

will be interesting to see how the trip south is today leaving DC at 3:30... it was a nightmare last week without the toll.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by NOVA_guy

I used to live in Stafford and this is something I never understood as well. There are so many things the county has refused to take part in or ignored over the years that could definitely help commuters like how Prince William, Fairfax and Loudoun have.

It's odd, most counties would take advantage of opportunities like that as it helps with growth but they don't really seem interested.

Don't they have VRE rail there?

[afdinatl]

Check out the traffic map right now

[ChristineVA]

Just got home at 3:20. Left DC at 2:30. It would have cost me $3.50 from Newington to Dale City (cheaper than yesterday). I stayed in the regular lanes and it was slow.

Traffic is just weird this week. I don't think we will see normal traffic patterns until next week.