I66 tolls now in effect - at times over $30 one way (Arlington: mortgage, house)

[native_va_gal]

This morning the new tolling began on I66 inside the beltway for single drivers during expanded rush hours. Did this impact your commute/experience on I66 or nearby roads that were affected....?

https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2017/12/...nside-beltway/

[spencgr]

I heard a lot of outrage over this. Single drivers couldn't use it before, now they can...with a large fee. Don't want to pay a large fee? Fine...commute the same way you were before. Nothing changes.

[Old Guard]

$60 a day round trip buys a lot of house inside the Beltway.

[Ffxdata]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I heard a lot of outrage over this. Single drivers couldn't use it before, now they can...with a large fee. Don't want to pay a large fee? Fine...commute the same way you were before. Nothing changes.

But but but it’s not fair!!!
Now you figure it all the people who were illegally riding, rolling the dice to see if they’d get caught.

[Radical_Thinker]

At those rates, it'd be cheaper take Uber, which wouldn't have to pay those tolls...lol. I can see these tolls rocketing past $50 in the near future - there's a ton of rich people in Washington who'll pay any price, no matter how high.

What would be nice if they had a good express bus service to use this fast highway during peak hour - do they have any sort of system set up yet?

[rome99]

yes, most of us cannot afford inside the Beltway! they should expedite Silverline until Ashburn.

Originally Posted by Old Guard

$60 a day round trip buys a lot of house inside the Beltway.

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by rome99

yes, most of us cannot afford inside the Beltway! they should expedite Silverline until Ashburn.

Do you own a home in Ashburn? Add another $800 to the mortgage and see what you could pay for inside the beltway.

[brooklynborndad]

For those who live in the Fair Lakes, Fair Oaks area: A new express bus from the Govt Center to downtown DC.

Parking at the Govt Center is free.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connec...017/17_017.htm

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Radical_Thinker

At those rates, it'd be cheaper take Uber, which wouldn't have to pay those tolls...lol. I can see these tolls rocketing past $50 in the near future - there's a ton of rich people in Washington who'll pay any price, no matter how high.

What would be nice if they had a good express bus service to use this fast highway during peak hour - do they have any sort of system set up yet?

There are extensive bus services for that purpose, just not cheap time wise or monetarily.

My roommate actually takes Uberpool to Rosslyn (from Westover/Ballston) when he has to go in and 70% of the time it is cheaper than metro. May not be that cheap anymore

[NOVAmtneer82]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

But but but it’s not fair!!!
Now you figure it all the people who were illegally riding, rolling the dice to see if they’d get caught.

Bingo. This morning was eye opening to me in terms of how many solo vehicles likely used 66 in-bound during previous HOV only times. My commute takes me on 66 westbound towards Tysons (which was the typical stop and go out of Arlington to the 267 cut-off this am) but 66 eastbound was smooth sailing- something I can never recall during my entire time making this commute unless on a Federal Holiday.

On the flip side, I do think some of the early bird commuters people who are outraged have reason to be as the HOV times/ tolling now begin at 5:30 am versus the previous 6:30. A lot of solo drivers were used to being able to hit 66 inside-the-beltway at 5:45 or 6 or even 6:15 and head on in- the prices were already high even at those times this morning.