Project Overview
What are HOV/HOT Lanes?High Occupancy and Toll (HOT) lanes are express travel lanes that are constructed and operated alongside existing highway lanes. HOT lanes maintain speed, i.e., manage congestion, by requiring travelers to use multi-passenger (HOV) transportation OR to pay a toll.
What is the extent of the project on I-95? Where does it begin and end?
The I-95 HOV/HOT Lanes project will extend and add capacity to the HOV lanes on I-95 to create a 29-mile HOV/HOT Lanes network from Edsall Road area in Fairfax County to Garrisonville Road in Stafford County. The project will also add new access points and connect directly to the new I-495 Capital Beltway HOT Lanes (currently under construction).
Project Development
What is the status of the project?Construction could begin as early as the 2012 spring construction season and would take about three years to complete.
How much will the project cost?
The project is expected to cost approximately $940 million and will be paid through a combination of state funding and substantial private equity and debt. Through a public-private partnership, Virginia is able to stretch scarce transportation dollars to deliver more improvements.
Will there be any improvements to the I-395 HOV lanes between Springfield and Washington?
Yes, the project will make improvements to the existing two HOV lanes for two miles from the Springfield Interchange to the Edsall Road area.
Concurrently, VDOT is advancing plans to construct a new ramp at I-395 and Seminary Road for the Mark Center. The ramp will be open for HOV and transit use only. Construction on the ramp could begin as early as 2012.
What does the new project include?
The I-95 HOV/HOT project will create approximately 29 miles of HOV/HOT lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to in the vicinity of Edsall Road on I-395 in Fairfax County and include:
- Constructing two new reversible HOV/HOT lanes for nine miles from Route 610/Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Route 234 in Dumfries to where the existing HOV lanes begin.
- Widening the existing HOV lanes from two lanes to three lanes for 12 miles from the Prince William Parkway to the Springfield Interchange.
- Making improvements to the existing two HOV lanes for six miles from Route 234 to the Prince William Parkway and for two miles from the Springfield Interchange to Edsall Road.
- Adding new or improved access points in the areas of Garrisonville Road, Joplin Road, Prince William Parkway, Fairfax County Parkway, Franconia-Springfield Parkway, I-495 and the vicinity of Edsall Road.
Will the HOV/HOT Lanes extend to the Mark Center?
No, but to help address the transportation needs of the growing Mark Center, VDOT will construct a new HOV/transit ramp at I-395 and Seminary Road for the Mark Center. The ramp will be open to HOV and transit only. Construction could begin as early as 2012.
How the HOV/HOT Lanes Will Work
Who will be able to use the Lanes?High occupancy vehicles (HOV-3+) such as carpools, vans and buses will have free access to the HOV/HOT Lanes. Motorcycles and emergency vehicles can also travel for free. Drivers with fewer than three occupants can choose to pay a variable toll to use the HOV/HOT Lanes.
Will carpools and vanpools travel free at all times?
Yes. High occupancy vehicles (HOV-3+) will have free access to the Lanes at all times.
Will all travelers be able to use the HOV/HOT Lanes outside rush hour and on weekends?
Unlike the existing HOV Lanes, the new HOV/HOT Lanes will be in effect at all times and on weekends. High occupancy vehicles (HOV-3+), motorcycles and transit will have free access at all times; drivers with fewer than three occupants can choose to pay a variable toll to use the Lanes on occasions when they need to get somewhere on time.
Where can I access the HOV/HOT Lanes?
Those choosing to use the HOV/HOT Lanes can access them at one of 12 entry/exit points including: the Edsall Road area, Capital Beltway HOT Lanes/Springfield Interchange, Engineering Proving Grounds, Franconia Springfield, Newington, Boudinot Drive /Fairfax County Parkway, Route 1 at Occoquan, Gordon Boulevard, Prince William County Parkway, Opitz Boulevard, Cardinal Drive and Garrisonville Road.
What will the toll be on HOT Lanes?
Tolls on the region-wide HOT Lanes network will vary based on real-time traffic conditions to manage the number of toll-paying customers who choose to enter the HOT Lanes. Most customers are expected to pay to use the HOT Lanes only a couple of times a week when they need a faster trip, with a typical trip during rush hour costing between $5 and $6. HOV-3+, vanpools, motorcycles and buses travel free.
It is not possible for us to predict exactly what the tolls will be at any given time. We expect they will range from as low as 10 cents per mile during less busy times, to approximately a dollar per mile in some sections during rush hour. The average trip cost is estimated to be between $5 and $7.
HOV-3+, vanpools, motorcycles and buses travel free.
How will customers pay tolls on the HOT Lanes?
All customers will be required to have an E-ZPass to use HOT Lanes. Customers may obtain an E-ZPass at www.ezpassva.com.
How will the tolling system distinguish between HOVs and Toll-Paying Customers?
All travelers on HOT Lanes in the region will be required to have an E-ZPass. Carpools will need to get an E-ZPass Flex – a new product available next summer that works just like a regular E-ZPass but has a switch on the side. All carpoolers have to do is flip the switch to carpool mode and they won't be charged a toll.
State Troopers – funded by the project – will be stationed alongside to make sure those travelers who have switched to carpool mode have three people in the car.
Combined, these changes will substantially decrease violation rates from what we see on the existing HOV lanes today, where about one-in-four drivers are cheating during the restricted periods.
Will carpoolers be required to have an E-ZPass?
Yes, all users will be required to have an E-ZPass. Carpoolers will use a new switchable E-ZPass that allows them to alert the system that they have three or more people in the vehicle so they will not be charged a toll. Additional police will provide enforcement.
By requiring users to have an E-ZPass, the HOV/HOT Lanes will be able to keep violators out of the lanes. Today, more than one-in-four vehicles on the existing HOV lanes on I-95 are violators.
Will toll-paying customers have access to the HOV/HOT Lanes inside the Beltway on
Toll-paying customers will have access to the HOV/HOT Lanes until the Edsall Road area. Beyond this point, the HOV/HOT Lanes will be restricted to carpools, transit, motorcycles and designated hybrids. Carpools and transit heading north on the HOT Lanes will be able to continue on to I-395 as they do today. Toll-paying customers heading north on the HOT Lanes will have the option to travel directly onto the Capital Beltway HOT Lanes or re-enter the regular lanes on I-395 in the area of Edsall Road.
Sound Walls
Will sound walls be constructed as part of the project?Yes, sound walls will be constructed along with the HOT Lanes Project along the I-95 corridor.
Construction
How long will the construction take?Construction could begin as early as this Spring. A robust public information program will be in place to ensure residents and travels are informed.
We encourage all travelers to visit vamegaprojects.com for the latest information.
Will construction of the project have the same impacts as construction of the Capital Beltway?
No. While there are always impacts with highway construction projects, we anticipate construction of the I-95 HOV/HOT Lanes will have significantly less impacts than the Capital Beltway HOT Lanes construction because bridges don't need to be demolished and rebuilt.
Will there be any homes or businesses taken to construct the project?
At this time, VDOT anticipates that the project will be constructed entirely on existing VDOT right of way.