Posted on 12/15/2018 1:14:13 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
When the 66 Express Lanes opened a year ago, officials promised the tolls would mean a smoother ride on the interstate, a major east-west thoroughfare from Northern Virginia into the District that is infamous for its headache-inducing congestion.
The states promise less congestion and faster travel times during rush hour has been fulfilled for many commuters able to pay or carpool, but the new toll system has had an adverse effect for many of the remaining road users.
For some commuters, the rush-hour period has simply shifted later outside the toll hours and dumped them onto an interstate just as gridlocked as before. Some alternative routes have experienced more congestion from bailout traffic from motorists seeking to avoid the toll, and other commuters have longer trips into the city on Metro or have abandoned efforts to use transit because of inadequate facilities, according to a Washington Post analysis of data from state and local governments and transit agencies and interviews with commuters.
The new high-occupancy toll lanes on one of the busiest highways in the Washington region have sparked dramatic shifts in commuter behavior, prompting motorists to alter their commute times and routes, data show, while yielding tolls as high as $47.50 some of the highest per mile in the country.
Would most people in the corridor say their commutes have improved? I dont think so, said Loudoun County Supervisor Ron Meyer (R-Broad Run). This tolling system has just made driving impossible and not affordable.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Year-old 66 Express Lanes have caused shifts in commuter behavior, but not necessarily in ways officials hoped
PING.
A toll is another tax on a road you’ve already paid taxes for.
its never been about serving the public....its been about riping more tax money out of them......
same as the 405 north of Seattle......express lanes for some, while the rest struggle with increased traffic.....let alone the express traffic to get out of the express lane to an exit have to cross several lanes of traffic to get there...
I am would bet that there is a large number of toll exempted classes.
We just had a road trip, FL to NC and back.
Never mind “66 in VA.” That is a mess. Try I-95.
I discovered that the new passing lane is not the left lane on a two or three lane Interstate. It is now the right lane!
Too many jerks drive the passing lane and traffic backs up causing/forcing those following to pass them on the right.
Typically the driver is doing exactly the speed limit as a “self appointed trooper.” It is unsafe at any speed.
If you are in the passing lane and NOT passing cars, get the hell over to the center or right lane, you are dangerous.
“let alone the express traffic to get out of the express lane to an exit have to cross several lanes of traffic to get there... “
A situation that I have ALWAYS dreaded.
.
Roads for the rich. Peasants please stay to the right.
If you are in the passing lane and NOT passing cars
= = =
Passing at what rate?
If a Beemer flies up behind me, flashing his (or her or zis) lights, how quickly do I have to get the heck out of it’s way?
They are in the process of doing something like this in Atlanta. What Atlanta needs is a bypass with NO local access. It is a mess about 18 out of every 24 hour period.
“If a Beemer flies up behind me, flashing his (or her or zis) lights, how quickly do I have to get the heck out of its way?”
Immediately!
Beemers are driven by liberal democrats and you must let them have their way.
Interstates and major roads used to have a single purpose - to move cars quickly and efficiently.
With the liberal deep state in control of more and more governments, the purpose of a highway now is to 1. Raise revenue, and 2. to modify behavior, i.e. use public transport, bicycles, walk.
The politicians of Virginia, Texas, and Florida are deep into this dual motivation, changing critical roads into tolling cash cows and drivers into leotard wearing bikers.
And big donor companies are being given 99 year control of these roads to charge any toll they want, and exempting politicians from having to do one of governments basic functions - road infrastructure. All those roads in Virginia are making billions for these companies, and millions in campaign cash for the approving politicians.
The people be damned. Stuff yourself into a Metro subway car (with also outrageous prices).
Probably liberals.
The statists have found another way to control behavior. They hate the fact that you can choose how to go somewhere. They want everyone, except themselves, to be forced to take the same transportation.
And another thing that is never discussed is the spread in communicable diseases and illnesses from being forced to take mass transportation. I was far healthier when I drove alone vs buses and subways.
You don’t pay the toll to use the road — you pay the toll to keep everyone else from using it, and getting in your way.
“I am would bet that there is a large number of toll exempted classes.”
Seems like good fodder for a Freedom of Information Request.
$50 bucks to drive to work one-way.
Welcome to Socialism.
Even though this is Virginia, a quote from an outgoing county council member of Mo Co comes to mind: “We’ve got to get people out of their cars.” Heard it on radio.
Traffic is made deliberately difficult to save the planet. The commie lions think they can make the need to drive disappear.
Well... DUH!
In related news: Speed bumps tend to slow down traffic.
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