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For those who don't live in the DC area, the Virginia government (both parties tbh) has set up these variable-priced HOT lanes for express lanes throughout the area. The pricing is based upon the average speed of traffic on the express lanes.

So when the express lanes are moving, tolls are quite reasonable, but when the express lanes slow down or stop then the tolls start to skyrocket.

Interstate 66 inside of the I-495 Beltway was formerly HOV (2 or more people per vehicle) during rush hour. Even with that restriction, it always backed up when it got close to the Potomac River. The reason for this is that I-66 turns into Constitution Avenue in Downtown DC.

Naturally when they add the HOT option for single drivers, the tolls are going to skyrocket during peak hours.

Bottom line is that until they add additional lanes to I-66 or make additional limited access routes of ingress into DC from Northern Virginia (right now, there are literally only three routes that are "limited access": I-395, I-66, and the George Washington Parkway), that's just going to be how it is.

But... but... but...

I thought the top four wealthiest counties were in the DC suburbs? These tolls are simply a reflection of the people's ability to pay.

If the "ordinary" people are complaining that they can't afford the good lanes, then they should take a look around them for the source of the problem.

-PJ

Interstate 66 inside of the I-495 Beltway was formerly HOV (2 or more people per vehicle) during rush hour. Even with that restriction, it always backed up when it got close to the Potomac River. The reason for this is that I-66 turns into Constitution Avenue in Downtown DC.

Yes, the bridge causes a backup, but the serious backups occur further south at the Fairfax/Arlington line -- why? B/C/ when I-66 was built the idiots who (and still) ran Arlington demanded only 4 lanes (two per direction), under the rather inane logic that it would reduce traffic.

I wish they would drop the HOV b.s. and just run congestion pricing. The problem w/ this particular corridor is that there is no alternative route other than local roads, which is what Arlington has put upon itself by limiting I-66 to 4 lanes.

The I-395 Hotlanes also start at the county lines, so just like I-66, the backups are not about the bridge but about the County line.

#ArlingtonCommmies