I-66 HOT lanes (Fairfax, Haymarket: price, safety, cars)

[gomason]

Originally Posted by Middlin

I would love to know where the majority commutes to from Gainesville/Bristow/Haymarket area. Most people I talk to commutes to the Dulles corridor if they don't work in the area. I've been disappointed to see the new bus commuter lot looking pretty empty. I assumed when they started the service to Tyson's that the parking lot would be packed.

It looked pretty packed the one time I drove by it (off 234).

I'm sure a lot of people in that area who work in Alexandria/Crystal City/DC, use VRE at the airport.

[Middlin]

I drive right by it two times a day at different times and I would think at least in the am all the spaces would be filled since I leave on the late side.

[Hudlander]

Originally Posted by NOVA_guy

Dude, traffic going to Stafford/Fredericksburg is insane.

I used to live in Stafford and I moved a little further North and going to Stafford, which usually should be a 20 minute drive takes me over an hour. I don't know what it is but right after Woodbridge 95 instantly turns into a parking lot and traffic comes to a complete stop pretty much until you get past Garrisonville or Fredericksburg. Hopefully the HOT lanes will help people who have to go to Stafford because it's crazy.

Central Jersey Turnpike theory.

Sometimes as main roads move away from the core urban area, the congestion gets worse.
This happens when the highway passes through a formerly rural area where there is usually just one main route to and from.
This was all fine and good when the area was rural, but once developed, the lack of any additional through routes packs everybody, local and long distance drivers, on the same route.

Central Jersey had this problem from the PA Turnpike to exit 8A, where I-295 traffic pretty much merged with long distance I-95 traffic. They are fixing it by doubling capacity.

After Woodbridge, you have Route 1 and I-95 to get all those new commuters into Stafford/Fburg along with I-95 long distance traffic. The road needed to be HOT laned in each direction OR I-97 should have been extended along route 301 into VA to make a long distance bypass.

[gomason]

Saw some interesting things about this on twitter today.

Here's the first map of the proposed HOT lanes interchanges on 66 outside the beltway I've seen: http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resource...nda_Item_9.pdf. Apparently it will go from Haymarket to 495 with new ramps with park & ride lots at University Drive and Balls Ford Road.

Inside the beltway, apparently VDOT is pushing for HOT lanes during the peak rush (HOV-3).
https://twitter.com/MartinDiCaro

VDOT plan for 66 inside Beltway: dynamic tolling both directions peak periods only. HOV-3 ride free. All traffic moves free during off-peak.

VDOT would manage the toll lanes instead of Transurban on the other HOT lanes.
http://www.bizjournals.com/washingto...d-outside.html

VDOT plans to widen I-66 from two to three lanes in both directions between Fairfax Drive and the Beltway, though that project will not be completed until 2040.

Pretty exciting news for bus riders in Manassas. Could get people to Vienna Metro in 18 minutes, downtown in 35 minutes.

[acgood]

What are they calling an existing park and ride at Monument Dr? The government center? mall? Can't believe there is excess capacity

[gomason]

Originally Posted by acgood

What are they calling an existing park and ride at Monument Dr? The government center? mall? Can't believe there is excess capacity

Yes, the government center. According to VDOT, there are only 170 spaces there. Maybe they'll build a new garage? Who knows.

It'll be interesting to see if the slugging culture takes off on the 66 corridor like what has always existed on 95.

[LakeLifePA]

Great news for motorcycle commuters like me!

[Forehead]

Will there be any further widening of 66 because of this? Just curious because I had looked at a house in Falls Church, a fixer upper of sorts, a year ago but the sound barrier for 66 was the back fence, and the yard wasn't big. Kind of a turnoff, and I'd have to imagine that any widening would mean the house would have to no longer exist.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by Forehead

Will there be any further widening of 66 because of this? Just curious because I had looked at a house in Falls Church, a fixer upper of sorts, a year ago but the sound barrier for 66 was the back fence, and the yard wasn't big. Kind of a turnoff, and I'd have to imagine that any widening would mean the house would have to no longer exist.

I highly doubt it. 66 is already three lanes each way through Falls Church (exits 67-69).

Exit 69 is where the Arlington County border is which is home to a County Board that opposes any traffic improvement (multimodal or highway). Who knows though, a Democratic Governor and a commitment to dedicate toll funding to transit might sway them to allow a third lane between exit 69 and 71 (whopping 2 miles!).

[e2ksj3]

I have mixed feelings on this... I mean I would love to spend money on a VRE extension and more service, but as far as highway improvements, I think this isn't too bad if they don't take away any lanes, like the 95 express lanes. If they are setting them up like the 495 express lanes it may not be such a bad idea.

I have to admit, I do use the 495 ones when I don't feel like dealing with traffic. At least with variable tolling you can in theory control demand by increasing/decreasing price.