Christy Goodman, The Examiner
2006-10-25 09:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

Richmond -

Virginia’s transportation commissioner officially signed on to a plan that means construction on the HOT lanes on the Interstate 95/395 corridor could start by 2008.

David Ekern, Virginia Department of Transportation commissioner, announced an interim agreement Tuesday with the private sector team of Fluor and Transurban to build High Occupancy Toll lanes on a 56-mile stretch between Arlington and Massaponax by 2014.

The agreement sets the foundation of the project, including environmental reviews, traffic and revenue studies and “assigning the plan to finance this adventure,” Ekern said.

The private team’s proposal was in exchange for a 60-year lease. They would expand existing High Occupancy Vehicle lanes and extend the lanes south of Fredericksburg. Variable tolls would be used to regulate congestion, with higher tolls during peak travel times and as the drivers get closer to the District, said Michael Kulper, senior vice president of Transurban.

The tolls would pay the debt on Fluor and Transurban’s bond sales to build the new lanes, supply the electronic tolling and help provide transit in the corridor.

The original proposal estimated the average toll would be about 27 cents per mile — or $15.12 for the entire 56-mile route, which would adjust throughout the day, said Barbara Reese, VDOT’s chief financial officer.

That amount will most likely change as the project goes through the lengthy approval and build process.

Fluor and Transurban’s original proposal also included a $260 million transit subsidy. During the study phase, engineers will lay out the exact position of six new park-and-ride facilities and a timeline for improving 12 bus stations along the route.

Carpoolers and bus commuters who use the HOT lanes are exempt from the tolls.

Engineers for the project will also design the 33 new and existing entry and exit ramps for the new lanes.

A final agreement for construction should be reached for the northern portion of the project, where there are existing HOV lanes, by early 2008, said Malcolm Kerley, a VDOT chief engineer.

The southern portion’s final construction agreement will follow a year later, he said.

cgoodman@dcexaminer.com