Truck and Barter: Private Roads in Northern VA

April 29, 2005

Private Roads in Northern VA

By Kevin

Well, I never thought I'd see this:

Construction of the first major expansion of the Capital Beltway in a generation could start as soon as next year, Virginia transportation officials said yesterday after signing a deal with two private firms to build toll lanes for a speedier ride on 14 miles of the chronically clogged highway.

The deal calls for adding two lanes in each direction of the Beltway, separated from other traffic... The high-occupancy toll -- or HOT -- lanes would be free for vehicles containing three or more people; other drivers would pay to use them. To keep the lanes from clogging, tolls would increase with the amount of traffic.

The state would not have to pay anything for the new lanes. The private companies would invest the entire $900 million cost of the project in exchange for all or part of the toll revenue....

Fluor Enterprises Inc. and Transurban Group will pay to build the lanes, which could open in 2010.

Of course the details might change, though not the lack of government money. It's a great day for federal and state taxpayers, as well as future DC beltway drivers.

Posted at April 29, 2005 11:06 AM

Comments

Will the extra lanes require confiscation of additional land? If so, who will pay for it? How will it be acquired?

Comment by The Eclectic Econoclast at April 30, 2005 03:45 PM | Permalink