Va. Republicans attack McAuliffe proposal to add tolls on congested I-66
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Version 0 of 1. Virginia House Speaker William J. Howell and other state Republican leaders Thursday attacked a plan by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) to turn Interstate 66 inside the Beltway into a toll road for some commuters during morning and evening rush hours. Calling the proposal “outrageously expensive” for commuters, Howell (R-Stafford) called on the governor to trash the idea and launch a plan that includes promptly adding new lanes to the heavily congested highway. [Important meetings this month for I-66 HOT Lanes] Adding tolls, without adding lane capacity, leaves the problem completely unsolved, Howell said during a news conference inside a Fairfax County park that overlooks I-66. The tolling system, which state transportation officials plan to implement in 2017, is meant to deal with single drivers who evade carpool regulations on I-66 that require vehicles traveling on the road inside Interstate 495 during rush hours to have at least two people. Under the plan, those drivers would be charged as much as $7, depending on how far they travel on the 10-mile stretch of highway, while carpoolers would be allowed to pass through without paying. The toll revenue would go toward improving nearby ancillary roads and expanding I-66 inside the Beltway when it’s clear that there are no other solutions to easing traffic on the narrow highway, said Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey L. Layne Jr. Some of the revenue could also go toward buses and bike lanes if it can be proved those projects would benefit people who use the highway, he said. “Quite frankly, there are a lot of people using the road today that are not legally using it,” Layne said. “If you’re legally using the road, there is no impact to you.” [Fight brewing over adding tolls to I-66 morning and evening commute] Since it was introduced earlier this year, the plan has sparked criticism from area lawmakers — including some Democrats — whose constituents have long been exasperated by one of the Washington region’s most vexing traffic problems. Layne said the plan was formulated with cooperation from local government officials, including in Arlington County, which has fiercely resisted widening the portion of I-66 that runs past the leafy suburb. On Thursday, state Republican leaders called for greater emphasis on adding more lanes to Route 66, arguing that the tolling system will hurt working-class drivers who can’t afford to pay a toll to get to their jobs inside the Beltway and will do little to reduce congestion. “All this does is put a toll out on this road during the rush hour that you will turn I-66 into what you might call ‘A Lexus lane,’ ” said state Del. James M. LeMunyon (Fairfax), whose district includes portions of Loudoun County. “It’s only going to help people who can afford it.” Howell said he would consider legislation that would restrict how the toll revenue is used. “We’re calling on the governor to start over,” he said. “We need real transportation solutions.” |