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Article History WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Virginia has signed a final agreement with contractors to build 14 miles of high-occupancy toll lanes along the Capital Beltway, transportation officials announced Thursday.
The $1.4 billion project is a highly touted public-private partnership, the type officials will look to mirror across the state as public transportation funds grow tighter. Under the contract, the state will pay for $409 million of the project, with the rest paid through tolls collected by the contractors, Fluor Daniels and Transurban USA.
Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, promised Thursday to expand the use of such partnerships, echoing similar sentiments by Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell, a Republican.
“Our public-private partnership programs continue to demonstrate that we can meet the demands of our residents, visitors and businesses,” the governor said in a statement. “By working together, we can manage congestion and provide new travel options for residents and businesses of Northern Virginia.”
Critics, including the District-based Coalition for Smarter Growth, have warned that the contract for the Capital Beltway HOT lanes project was reached through limited public involvement and cedes public infrastructure to private companies for most of a century.
The details of the project appear to be largely the same as those announced months ago. Construction is set to begin in the spring. The average rush-hour trip is expected to cost $5 to $6. The additional toll lanes will run along Interstate 495 from Old Dominion Drive/Route 123 to south of Braddock Road.
wflook@dcexaminer.com
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Comments from Examiner Readers
7:13 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 17, 2008 re: "HOT lanes foes cite dangers to migratory birds"
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12:12 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 14, 2008
re: "Bill halting HOT lanes faces slim odds"
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7:28 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 14, 2008
re: "Aging bridges, ramps to be replaced as HOT lanes added"
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8:34 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 23, 2008
re: "Bill halting HOT lanes faces slim odds"
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Examiner Reader said:
(sarcasm) It's great that they are willing to only destroy the trees in the birds’ foraging space, and not the actual trees where they nest. I mean sure, now they'll have a place to sleep, they just won't have anything to eat. Absolutely lovely.
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Examiner Reader said:
Discrimination. Is VA really adding public roadways that only the rich could afford? Why are the rich the only ones entitled to a fast commute? Am I paying to build these lanes? If so I will be paying for a road that I can't even afford to ride on. Is that really public? Since when is it ok to segregate the population? Rich people over here! Talk about separate and unequal. This state disgusts me.
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Examiner Reader said:
And what happens when the "bill" for these lanes is paid off? I guess they'll continue to charge us like they do for the Dulles Toll Road. If the funds go to something productive (i.e. upkeep/upgrade of existings roads) that's fine...I just hope that's the case. I wish they had added the purple line back in the day when Metrorail was still being constructed. It would have been a lot cheaper then...
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Examiner Reader said:
How about using that lane to make a metro line instead?
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