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495ExpressLanes.com (New Virginia HOT lanes)

Discussion in 'Local Clubs, Events, and Road Trips' started by wjtracy, Oct 7, 2012.

  1. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    For Virginians and motorists who pass thru the DC I495 Beltway in VA , here is info on the new HOT lanes opening soon on the VA side of the Beltway. Tonight the electronic signs said "check out ExpressLanes.com for more info".

    Key points-
    > HOT lanes are NOT free for plug-ins, hybrids, or EV's
    > You need a new EZ Pass "Flex" transponder to travel free for 3+ passengers.
    - The EZ Pass Flex has a switch to turn off the toll charge if you have 3 passengers
    > Tolls are charged by EZ Pass only and the toll fee floats based on demand, but sounds expensive
    > Wow I have trouble seeing many paying for this - will be interesting to see how well it works

    HOT lanes to open soon by end of 2012. LINK to website:

    Express Lanes
     
    #1 wjtracy, Oct 7, 2012
  2. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    #2 wjtracy, Nov 1, 2012
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks wj, that's a pretty bad commuting area, especially with all the sprawl to the south in the last 20 years. i experienced it many times when 2 of my children were in school in d.c., it will be interesting to see how it goes. we pss thru on the way to florida every winter, but hit the beltway around 6pm and things aren't usuall too bad by the time we get down there on our way to fredericksburg.
     
    #3 bisco, Nov 1, 2012
  4. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Hi Bisco we have G Dub grad ourselves. The HOT lanes are a curiousity (wait and see) because essentially no one would want to use them. One sweet spot (its HOV-3) so if you had young family you could travel free with purchase of an EZ PASS "flex". Except for the terrible construction delays of the HOT lanes themselves, that section is not too bad for traffic. Next they start going down I95 to at least Fredricksburg, maybe Richmond I think. Eventually the HOT lanes built down some feeder roads, and the vision is I could get a bus from my house to Tyson Corner for 30-minute ride. But we are talking decades not sure I am alive to see it. Overall the project leaves the public scratching their heads, but the politicians insisted and loved getting the free road projects (3rd party funded).
     
    #4 wjtracy, Nov 1, 2012
  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Here is an update on the new VA Hot Lanes on the I495 Beltway.
    Imagine a $billion dollar parallel universe highway with no cars on it.
    This is what we have 80% of time - no useage and less use than projected by the State and builder.
    It does save 30-min in morning Northbound commute up to Tysons Corner area (gov't agencies CIA etc).
    That's it, but I never made that commute.
     
    #5 wjtracy, Jan 15, 2013
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