The advent of I-66 variable-price tolling (note that this is ONLY for solo drivers, who previously couldn’t legally use the road during rush hour) is certainly stirring up a lot of conversation, especially given reports of tolls as high as $40 one way. Here are a few, by Virginia elected officials, I saw on Twitter and Facebook this morning. Personally, I have mixed feelings, but overall my focus is on encouraging smart growth, transit-oriented development, BRT, bike lanes, carpooling, a thriving/healthy Metro system, etc, etc. Needless to say, I am NOT a fan of sprawl or of adding more asphalt, given the environmental damage those things do. I AM a fan of coordinating land use and transportation, as well of focusing our investment dollars on sustainable alternatives for the long run, not on perpetuating a system that isn’t working in so many ways.
The tolls on I-66 are outrageous. I voted against the plan in 2015 & 2016 when we were promised the highest toll would be $17 roundtrip. $30+ tolls are unfair, especially for those of us with limited east-west travel options. https://t.co/D3rNVUEsoX
— Jennifer Wexton (@JenniferWexton) December 5, 2017
That’s why @ChapPetersen and I carried legislation that would’ve barred tolls from going into effect on existing lanes of I-66, but state-backed compromise to widen the road inside the beltway hasn’t been completed. I’ll continue to fight for fixes during our upcoming session.
— Jennifer Wexton (@JenniferWexton) December 5, 2017
Elections have consequences. I’m afraid NOVA is gonna be suffering the consequences of the 2017 election on its transportation system for years to come. But hey, at least you made your anti-Trump point. https://t.co/UCP40kpdLM
— Greg Habeeb (@GregHabeeb) December 4, 2017
I stand w/ @DelegateJBell & HD13 commuters who battled through an outrageous trip to work Monday, which is why I called charging the highest toll in the country what it is: price gouging. I told a VDOT rep either VDOT can fix it or the GA can.
/1https://t.co/hxobnwruLi https://t.co/VAGRcAZneu— Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 5, 2017
$34.50 toll on I-66 is way too high a price to pay to get to work. I have always been against tolls and will continue to fight them.
— Delegate John Bell (@DelegateJBell) December 4, 2017
I recognize the pressure VDOT is under because federal law mandates the average speed on I-66 inside the beltway now must be at least 45 mph, otherwise the tolls go away and it’s back to HOV-2.
At the same time, I don’t know a commuter who would be priced out at $35 but not $25.— Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 5, 2017
I met with one of @MarkWarnerVA‘s staffers yesterday to talk about transportation and utilities in Northern Virginia. I ended the conversation by asking him, “What can I do to help the people of Southwest and Southside?”
We’re a commonwealth. We can’t leave any region behind. https://t.co/ooeFUCiRXi— Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 5, 2017
Clearly, something has gone horribly wrong here. This price gouging should never be allowed. https://t.co/m9dy7QioIR
— Lee J. Carter (@carterforva) December 5, 2017
Let’s work from the same facts toward an I66 tolls solution together:
1) We heard 2 years ago it would be $17 roundtrip for peak demand, not $36 one-way. Clearly this is high.
2) There is a funding gap never closed from HB 2313.
3) We lack adequate mass transit in western PWC.
/1— Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 5, 2017
4) Solo hybrid drivers with specially-marked plates are not exempt from the tolls. That means some individual drivers do now have to pay tolls when they didn’t before.
5) Federal law: there must be a 45 mph speed during tolls. Toll caps must be compliant or we change the law.
/2— Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 5, 2017
Reasonable people can disagree about dynamic pricing and tolls. I respect everyone who has a strong opinion and I won’t make personal attacks toward anyone just because we disagree on the policy.
We can find common ground here but we can’t fight with each other to get there.
/3— Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 5, 2017
Elections have consequences. I’m afraid NOVA is gonna be suffering the consequences of the 2017 election on its transportation system for years to come. But hey, at least you made your anti-Trump point. https://t.co/UCP40kpdLM
— Greg Habeeb (@GregHabeeb) December 4, 2017
Two years ago I introduced House Bill 1 to prevent tolling I-66 inside the Beltway. Every Democrat on the House Transportation Committee voted no. #i66tolls #I66 https://t.co/GwNVGKF8jV
— Jim LeMunyon (@JimLeMunyon) December 4, 2017
In 2015 @JimLeMunyon introduced a bill that would have prevented the ridiculous #I66Tolls we saw today. Every @vademocrats member of the House Transportation Committee voted against the bill.
— John Whitbeck (@JohnWhitbeck) December 5, 2017
The bill passed the Transportation committee and was killed by a subcommittee in appropriations with 5 Republicans on it and only 2 Dems. Republicans killed LeMunyon’s bill.
— (((Marcus Simon))) (@marcussimon) December 5, 2017
In 2016 a bipartisan group of NoVa Delegates incl @DelegateJBell @JenniferBoysko & @kmurphyva sponsored HB1 which would have prohibited I66 tolls inside Beltway. House Republicans killed it on an unrecorded voice vote in an Approps subcommittee made up of 5 Rs and 2 Ds.
— (((Marcus Simon))) (@marcussimon) December 5, 2017
@AdamTuss – News 4 At 11 ran side by side photos of 66 & 50 and blames new tolls for traffic on Rt 50 this evening. Can you tell them I-66 has always been HOV during evening Rush? That picture would have looked exactly the same last week.
— (((Marcus Simon))) (@marcussimon) December 5, 2017
Adam is one of the few in the local media who actually understands the new system. He’s also learning what we politicians have known forever – of you are explaining you are losing.
— (((Marcus Simon))) (@marcussimon) December 5, 2017
Keep in mind – before this week a solo driver coming from the west would have had to stop at Nutley St, pay $5 to park, pay a $5.50 fare, wait on a cold platform for 10 min, then take a 27 min trip downtown. That’s why people are willing to pay $30
— (((Marcus Simon))) (@marcussimon) December 5, 2017
Ok- now I have to ask. How was their trip made worse than it was last week, when they couldn’t use I-66 at all without a carpool?
— (((Marcus Simon))) (@marcussimon) December 5, 2017
Gridlocked roadways are also horrible for the environment. The unfortunate reality Lee & I have is we don't have a rail line for Bristow, Gainesville or Haymarket and very limited long-distance bus service. I'm putting in legislation to increase mass transit & unclog our roads.
— Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 5, 2017
The other best thing we can do for the environment and the economy is bring in more high-paying jobs at home so our two-thirds of our commuters aren't leaving the greater PWC area every day to get to their jobs elsewhere where they physically have to be there in the first place.
— Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 5, 2017
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