Tom Warne Report, 17 December 2013
WASHINGTON – While drivers sit in the stop-and-go traffic that is commonplace during weekday commutes on I-66, officials with the state transportation department are deep in discussions to find a long-term solution to the congestion on one of the region’s busiest routes.
Nearly 20 companies submitted proposals last month at the request of the Virginia Department of Transportation for how to solve the congestion.
Transurban and Fluor Enterprises, Inc. were among the respondents to VDOT’s Request for Information (RFI). These two companies joined to construct and operate the 495 Express Lanes and the 95 Express Lanes under development, and would both bring experience in projects that could solve the congestion problems on I-66, including possibly adding toll lanes and using the 495/95 prototype for I-66.
In its report, Transurban said: “The best option for relieving congestion in the I-66 corridor is a managed lanes concept that would increase capacity, provide new travel choices, enable express bus routes and other transit improvements.” The report continued to say that the circumstances on I-66 make drivers likely to be willing to pay for a faster commute and “make the corridor an ideal candidate for a demand-risk public-private partnership.” The proposed model would allow VDOT to maintain ownership, but lease it to Transurban, which would operate it in exchange for toll revenue.
Fluor also suggested that a public-private partnership would be the best route for the corridor.
A different approach was suggested by Abertis, which has an office in the District of Columbia. In it’s report, Abertis described “a project that first turns the existing HOV lanes to HOT Lanes,” in an effort to provide immediate relief during construction and expansion. Abertis’ plan would add an additional lane in each direction, and to mitigate right-of-way concerns, make the lanes 11 feet instead of 12 feet. The speed limit could be lowered from 55 mph to 45 mph for safety.
Several responding contractors noted the high risk factor in toll roads that have recently gone under, including Pocahontas Parkway operated by Transurban.
