Steve Burns
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON – (WMAL) Following a morning that left many I-66 drivers with a serious case of sticker shock, Virginia’s Transportation Secretary tells WMAL things went as planned on the first morning of tolling on the highway.
“Overall, first day, I think we’re off to a good start,” he said. “(Tolls) were about where we thought they would be. I think you’ll see those tolls change as people become more accustomed and habits change.”
Complaints came in early and often on social media, as single drivers were faced with an ever-increasing toll that peaked at over $34 to travel from the Beltway to Rosslyn around 8:15 Monday morning. While the Virginia Department of Transportation widely publicized the new rules, the agency generally avoided giving out a toll estimate, only going so far as to say the lanes are dynamically-priced with a goal of maintaining an average speed of 55 mph.
Layne also said impacts on surface roads were minimal during the morning rush.
“Arlington confirmed, their engineer, that the roads were about like a normal day. They did not see any extensive overflow into those roads.”
The tolls are free for everyone with an EZ-Pass Flex outside of single-occupant cars headed in the peak direction during rush hour, defined by VDOT as eastbound from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and westbound from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
“If you want to avoid it, just put someone else in your car, or you have the option to make the decision whether this is worth it or not,” Layne said. He also mentioned the state is seeing the beginnings of sluglines getting established along the I-66 corridor, similar to the popular practice on I-95.
Virginia officials earlier announced expanded express bus routes through the corridor with cooperation from transit agencies in Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties. Toll money will be going to fund more transportation options.
Copyright 2017 WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: VDOT via Twitter)
