I-66 tolls in/out of DC with metro down (Reston: home, construction)

[BHW2436]

With a bunch of stops on the orange line down for repair for 4-6 weeks (Vienna and Dunn Loring being the worst), if one works in DC they either have to use buses then metro or drive. Driving on 66 from Merrfiield or further means 66 unless you want to drive through many red lights and take 50+ minutes.

It’s absurd to me that with metros out of order and thus increases in traffic, that they charge as much as they do. Today for example, from Merrifield to DC toll in was $41.50 (8am) and toll coming home was $32.50 (5:30pm)

That is absolutely nuts.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by BHW2436

It’s absurd to me that with metros out of order and thus increases in traffic, that they charge as much as they do. Today for example, from Merrifield to DC toll in was $41.50 (8am) and toll coming home was $32.50 (5:30pm)

That is absolutely nuts.

Simple solution: Carpool and ride free. If you were a Metro commuter there are probably many others with the same destination.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by BHW2436

With a bunch of stops on the orange line down for repair for 4-6 weeks (Vienna and Dunn Loring being the worst), if one works in DC they either have to use buses then metro or drive. Driving on 66 from Merrfiield or further means 66 unless you want to drive through many red lights and take 50+ minutes.

It’s absurd to me that with metros out of order and thus increases in traffic, that they charge as much as they do. Today for example, from Merrifield to DC toll in was $41.50 (8am) and toll coming home was $32.50 (5:30pm)

That is absolutely nuts.

WMATA and VDOT are two completely different entities and VDOT has no responsibility for adjusting for WMATA maintenance work, despite that unreasonable expectation.

[BHW2436]

Well, I guess no one cares, it’s reasonable and rationale (owned by two different entities) and as pointed out, the simple solution is to find 2 strangers that live near me and also work near me in the same place in DC and we can carpool.

Mod, please close this thread.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by BHW2436

Well, I guess no one cares, it’s reasonable and rationale (owned by two different entities) and as pointed out, the simple solution is to find 2 strangers that live near me and also work near me in the same place in DC and we can carpool.

Mod, please close this thread.

I do, just from a reasonable standpoint since I don't live in the DC area. Those tolls are ridiculously high, and perhaps should be zero as long as the Metro isn't working.

[BOS2IAD]

OP---You don't say exactly where you live so my suggestion may or may not work for you.

Can you get to a silver line station? For example, if you live in Vienna, you could drive to the Wiehle Avenue-Reston East station and park your car there. You can use Hunter Mill Road to get you to and from Reston and into and out of Vienna. It's not ideal but at least you won't be paying such outrageous tolls.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by BOS2IAD

OP---You don't say exactly where you live so my suggestion may or may not work for you.

Can you get to a silver line station? For example, if you live in Vienna, you could drive to the Wiehle Avenue-Reston East station and park your car there. You can use Hunter Mill Road to get you to and from Reston and into and out of Vienna. It's not ideal but at least you won't be paying such outrageous tolls.

Parts of the Silver Line is shutdown too.

[LakeLifePA]

I get to work by 6am (Downtown DC from Herndon) and it's only 41 minutes in the morning and 51 minutes in the afternoon at 2pm with zero tolls. I work in the IC where early hours are the norm, but even so, most places offer flexible hours.

I'll happily go back to the Metro though when the construction is finished, because I miss reading.

[boyd888]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

I do, just from a reasonable standpoint since I don't live in the DC area. Those tolls are ridiculously high, and perhaps should be zero as long as the Metro isn't working.

The toll is always zero if you are HOV3 and that's the point of the lanes.

During hov hours I66 is supposed to have a traffic flow rate of 45mph. When it drops below that (i.e. most days) the toll goes up to reduce the number of non HOV-3 cars on it. Too many cars and it skyrockets as has been seen on the $40 days.

Making it zero would just result in complete gridlock which goes against the point of an HOV highway to begin with. The single pay only exists to capture some extra revenue from every day rich people that don't care what it costs and occasional users.

[BHW2436]

Originally Posted by boyd888

The toll is always zero if you are HOV3 and that's the point of the lanes.

During hov hours I66 is supposed to have a traffic flow rate of 45mph. When it drops below that (i.e. most days) the toll goes up to reduce the number of non HOV-3 cars on it. Too many cars and it skyrockets as has been seen on the $40 days.

Making it zero would just result in complete gridlock which goes against the point of an HOV highway to begin with. The single pay only exists to capture some extra revenue from every day rich people that don't care what it costs and occasional users.

unless you are driving with family or work in a large office, having 3 people in your car is a stretch.

My point is right now I don’t really have a choice. It’s either buses then have my commute be 75 mins, or pay crazy prices to drive. Alternative is using back roads and further clogging that up and I’m sure local residents would strongly disagree with that idea.

I’ve lived in the Northeast so I’m fine with tolls. But the dynamic ridiculousness of $40+ one way for the use of 10 miles of interstate to simply work is crazy. The tolls don’t keep traffic off right now because the alternative isn’t viable.

Maybe I’m doing something wrong? Here’s an article about these they changed the tolls, it said “pay the tolls or use the traffic regular lanes or public transportation”:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ams/930900001/

Right now it doesn’t appear on 66 there are “regular lanes” nor is there the viable public transportation I was using with ease.