“The New Virginia Express Lane” Proposal, source of funding, the cost and the usage

Abstract

In November 2012, The New Express lanes introduced the innovative change in the patterns of traffic of region. The reason behind this project was the increased traffic blocking VDOT, FHWA, Transurban and Fluor collectively worked on this project by forming the public-private partnership. This project is improving the economic efficiency of a region. This paper aims at discussing the project background, proposal, cost and funding of the project and also different alternatives under consideration. Public-private partnership is also discussed in this paper. Recommendations and conclusion with evidences are also part of this research paper.

Thesis Statement1

Introduction1

Discussion2

Congestion Crises Issues2

HOT Lanes - As a Solution2

Evaluation of Alternatives under Consideration3

The Express Lanes Proposal4

Cost of the Express Lanes6

Funding For the New 495 Express Lane6

Usage6

Recommendations7

Conclusion7

“The New Virginia Express Lane” Proposal, source of funding, the cost and the usage

Thesis Statement

“The new express lanes project is formed by the public-private partnership of Fluor-Transurban and VDOT. The project is financially and operationally beneficial and also improving the economic efficiency of a region.”

Introduction

According to Ross, The 495 Express Lanes are introducing the massive change to the traffic patterns of the region and was opened early on November 17, 2012. As the traffic blocking increased, the express lanes demand also increased and ensuring growth of the dynamic pricing (2013). The 495 Express Lanes project validates the worth the public and private sector can create by working collectively to confirm innovation and sustainability. The partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation, FHWA (Federal Highway Administration), and Flour-Transurban was a public-private partnership and collectively work on nearly $2 billion project (www.itsa.wikispaces.net).

In 2008, the construction of the project started and was completed within budget and early on November 17, 2012. The project was settled to improve traffic overcrowding problems observed around the greater area of Washington, DC (Anonymous, 2012a). In the region, new Express Lanes are the leading road of its kind to provide service of HOV on the Capital Beltway, in addition to the option to, pay a toll for a faster and more foreseeable trip. In order to use the Express Lanes, all drivers require E-ZPass because there is no option to pay cash (Anonymous, 2012b).

Discussion

Congestion Crises Issues

According to Steinhilber, Washington DC ranked first in worst congestion of traffic in US. It is noticed that the average Washington commuter wastes over 74 hours per year in their cars. In U.S Beltway was the 3rd congested roadway (2012). In 2010, the population of Washington was around 6.6 million providing employment for 3.6 million. The strong growth the planning horizon is forecasted by metropolitan Washington council of government 2010 (Steinhilber, 2012).

HOT Lanes - As a Solution

According to Steinhilber, in the late 1980s VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) began studying the solutions for rising traffic congestion (www.ncppp.org). So with the help of express lanes project HOT lanes add capacity and manage the congestion problem. In order to minimize the impact on the environment of surrounding HOT ...