The real problem is there are only 2 lanes each way on I-66 in Arlington County.
Back approx. 1960 when the highway was being built, Arlington refused to allow 6 lanes on I-66, which is why the overall highway footprint doesn’t change at the Fairfax line but the lanes go from 3 to 2 each way. When I learned about this, the only thing that astonished me was that Arlington County has been stupid for longer than I thought.
Meanwhile, I’m all for the Hotlanes — saved my butt when I was late for a meeting out at Tysons one Friday afternoon: was very worth the fee.
That said, HOV lanes suck. Change ‘em all to tolls and be done with the special privileges for hybrids and extra passengers.
I am very suspect of them claiming that these tolls have not overloaded other streets that people are using as alternatives.