66 Express Lanes Inside The Beltway Toll Day One Analysis

FAIRAX –After nearly four full days of Express Lanes on I-66 Inside the Beltway being underway, the Virginia Department of Transportation reports that morning and afternoon commutes on Monday, Dec. 4, were faster than the same time last December.  The average round-trip toll price during peak hours was $14.50, with the average morning toll during peak hours of $10.70 and average afternoon toll during the peak hours of $3.80. This toll rate during peak hours is lower than the estimated average toll rate of $17.00 during peak hours discussed in 2015, as shown in the table below.  

	Eastbound (AM)	Westbound (PM)	Daily Total
September 2015 Estimate Average Toll (HOV-2+)	$9.00	$8.00	$17.00
December 4, 2017 Average Toll (HOV-2+)	$10.70	$3.80	$14.50

Further analysis of the Monday morning rush hours indicates the following:

• A total of 13,473 vehicles used I-66 Inside the Beltway between the hours of 5:30-9:30am;
• Of this total 5,082 or 38 percent were carpoolers who traveled free;
• Only 39 vehicles, or 0.29 percent, paid the posted highest toll of $34.50;
• 34 percent of vehicles paid less than $10; and,
• Travel times were 10-12 minutes compared with 15-30 minutes last December.

Further analysis of the Monday afternoon rush hours indicates the following:

• A total of 16,307 vehicles used I-66 Inside the Beltway between the hours of 3:00-7:00pm;
• Of this total 4,964 or 30 percent were carpoolers who traveled for free; and,
• Travel times were 10-12 minutes compared with 10-20 minutes last December.

“Contrary to the continued political rhetoric of critics, I-66 Inside the Beltway Express Lanes tolls have been based on sound planning and with the ultimate goal of improving travel for everyone,” said Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne. “We want to move more people, improve connectivity and provide additional travel choices. This is about unlocking gridlock on I-66 as Governor McAuliffe pledged.”

Additional data from Monday commute shows that travel on parallel routes such as Route 50, Route 29 and Route 7 were either similar or improved compared with last December.  There was an incident that closed two of three lanes of traffic on Route 50 Monday evening that resulted in longer travel times for a period of time.  Detailed travel time charts for these routes along with Interstate 66 are included at the end of this release. 

VDOT is committed to transparency in the operation of the Interstate 66 Express Lanes and will release similar information over the coming days.  VDOT is responsible for operating and maintaining the I-66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway. A period of approximately three days is needed for tolling operators to process each vehicle trip on the Express Lanes, which provide information such as traffic volumes and toll pricing.

The Express Lanes, which allow any solo driver the ability to use I-66 Inside the Beltway legally for the first time ever during rush hours, are part of a comprehensive multimodal set of improvements to the I-66 corridor. Other key elements, which are moving ahead, include widening I-66 from the Dulles Toll Road to Ballston, and continued investments in new transit service and other services like carpooling incentives.

Update on I-66 Eastbound Widening Initiative:

On Thursday, Dec. 7, VDOT awarded an $85.7 million contract to Lane Construction Corporation of Chantilly to add an additional through lane along four miles of eastbound Interstate 66 between the Dulles Connector Road (Route 267) and Fairfax Drive (Route 237) in Fairfax and Arlington Counties.

The project includes ramp modifications at Exits 69 and 71, rehabilitation and/or repairs to bridges, construction of noise barriers eastbound and westbound and widening bridges and constructing a new grade-separated crossing of the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail at Lee Highway.

Additionally, an auxiliary lane will be added to the existing I-66 eastbound exit ramp and a slip ramp will be constructed from the I-66 eastbound exit ramp to the Route 7 southbound entrance flyover ramp, providing more direct access to the West Falls Church Metro Station Parking Garage.

The additional eastbound lane will be open to traffic in fall 2020 and the overall project is expected to be complete in fall 2021.

Update on I-66 Commuter Choice Program and New Transit Services and Multimodal Improvements Benefitting I-66 Corridor:

Toll revenue generated from the I-66 Inside the Beltway Express Lanes supports the I-66 Commuter Choice Program run by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. All toll revenues after operating costs will be allocated to transit and other multimodal initiatives that provide a direct benefit for those who travel on the I-66 corridor by the Commission.

In July 2016, the Commonwealth approved $10 million to fund the initial group of multimodal improvements for I-66 Inside the Beltway. This proactive approach allowed VDOT, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC),  local government and key stakeholders to advance ten meaningful multimodal projects that will ultimately move an extra 5,000 people through the corridor each morning.

The initial projects, which are in effect now, encompass Prince William, Loudoun, Fairfax, and Arlington counties and the City of Falls Church. Transit services include three new bus routes, increased service on two existing routes and last-mile connections to Metrorail stations, new bikeshare stations near Metro, as well as a new park-and-ride lot in Aldie that will support current and future bus service. Additional projects launched include real-time traveler information and transportation demand management services that provide incentives to use transit or carpools.

The process to identify and select the next set of multimodal improvement projects is underway currently.  Local governments have until December 22, 2017 to submit projects for consideration.  The Commission is expected to vote on its recommendations in the Spring, with final action by the Commonwealth Transportation Board shortly thereafter.

I-66 Travel Times – Morning and Evening Commute

Route 50 Travel Times – Morning and Evening Commutes

Route 29 Travel Times – Morning and Evening Commutes

Route 7 Travel Times – Morning and Evening Commutes

Click to download all graphs 

Transportation Board Awards Contracts Worth $374.7 Million

RICHMOND, Virginia – The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved four contracts at its monthly meeting yesterday, totaling $374.7 million for maintenance and construction projects in the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Richmond districts.

• Eastbound I-66 Inside the Beltway will be widened between the Dulles Connector Road and Fairfax Drive 

An $85.7 million contract was awarded to Lane Construction Corp. of Chantilly to add a through lane along approximately four miles of eastbound Interstate 66 between the Dulles Connector Road (Route 267) and Fairfax Drive (Route 237) in Fairfax and Arlington counties, in VDOT’s Northern Virginia District.

The project includes ramp modifications at Exits 69 and 71, rehabilitation and/or repairs to bridges, construction of noise barriers eastbound and westbound and widening bridges and constructing a new grade-separated crossing of the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail at Lee Highway.

Additionally, an auxiliary lane will be added to the existing I-66 eastbound exit ramp and a slip ramp will be constructed from the I-66 eastbound exit ramp to the Route 7 southbound entrance flyover ramp, providing more direct access to the West Falls Church Metro Station Parking Garage.

The additional eastbound lane will be open to traffic in fall 2020 and the overall project is expected to be complete in fall 2021. 

• I-64 will be widened to three lanes for more than eight miles in York County

A $178.3 million contract was awarded to Shirley Contracting Co. LLC of Lorton for I-64 Capacity Improvements Segment III. The project will extend the three lane section of Interstate 64 for about 8.2 miles west of the I-64 Capacity Improvement Segment II endpoint in VDOT’s Hampton Roads District.

Improvements will include reconstruction of existing travel lanes and outside shoulder; the addition of one 12-foot travel lane and one 12-foot paved shoulder in both directions; lengthening of acceleration and deceleration lanes; reconstruction of and addition of a signal at the I-64 eastbound off ramp to Route 143; repair and widening of four mainline bridges and replacement of existing bridges over Queens Creek.

Widening of the roadway and bridges is expected to occur mostly on the median of the existing roadway minimizing impacts to existing interchanges and utilities, right of way and the environment.

The project is funded through the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission and SMART SCALE and is expected to be complete in fall 2021. 

• A new I-264 interchange will be constructed at Witchduck Road in the City of Virginia Beach

A $105.4 million contract was awarded to The Lane Construction Corp. of Cheshire, Connecticut for the Interstate 264 / Witchduck Road Interchange and Ramp Extension Project in VDOT’s Hampton Roads District.

Improvements include a new I-264 interchange at Witchduck Road, ramp widening and a new system of collector-distributor (C-D) roads to ease congestion and improve traffic flow from Interstate 64 West to I-264 East.

Project improvements include a C-D road along I-264 through the Newtown Road interchange, which will be reconfigured to improve the traffic operations.

The new C-D road serving the Newtown Road interchange will be extended eastward to the Witchduck Road interchange before merging into mainline I-264 East. This extension includes widening the existing bridge over the former Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor and providing an off-ramp to Witchduck Road. The new two-lane off-ramp will be aligned with the existing Grayson Road intersection and will provide access to both directions of Witchduck Road and to Grayson Road.

The project is funded through the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission and SMART SCALE. Expected completion is in fall 2021.

• Paving maintenance is planned in ten counties in the Richmond region

A $5.3 million contract was awarded to Slurry Pavers Inc. of Richmond for paving maintenance in VDOT’s Richmond District. The project will resurface 118 lane miles along 14 primary routes in ten Richmond-area counties. The work will be completed during the 2018 paving season.

The following chart tracks the dollar amount of major contracts the CTB has awarded in calendar year 2017:

 In advance of each CTB meeting, VDOT Commissioner Charles Kilpatrick also approves contracts up to $5 million in value. From the Oct. 25, 2017, bid letting, the commissioner approved 23 contracts worth approximately $32.2 million for construction and maintenance projects on Virginia’s interstates and primary and secondary roads.

Appointed by the governor, the 17-member CTB establishes the administrative policies for Virginia's transportation system. The CTB allocates highway funding to specific projects, locates routes and provides funding for airports, seaports and public transportation. The board normally meets on the third Wednesday of the month in months when action meetings are scheduled.

For more information:

• Final bid results and projects: http://www.virginiadot.org/business/const/bidresults-list.asp
• CTB meeting, times and locations: http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/public_meetings/schedule_overview/default.asp

Gov. McAuliffe Marks Opening Of A Wider I-64 On The Peninsula

NEWPORT NEWS – Governor McAuliffe today marked the opening of a wider I-64 on the peninsula with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Unlocking one of the Peninsula’s biggest bottlenecks has been a priority for Governor McAuliffe and today’s completion of the Segment I widening work marks a significant step forward in the overall project. Segment I of the widening effort was completed on time and on budget.

“My administration has worked tirelessly to relieve the gridlock in Hampton Roads and today I am proud to celebrate the widening of I-64 on the Peninsula, which came in on time and under budget,” said Governor McAuliffe at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “This important project was truly a team effort between the state, regional and local government, the private sector and the community. The widening of I-64 on the Peninsula is yet another step forward in our efforts to build a transportation system that helps our new Virginia economy thrive.”

Nearly six miles of Interstate 64 between Jefferson Avenue and Yorktown Road is now open with an additional travel lane and shoulder in each direction. The widening work was completed by Shirley Contracting Company of Lorton, Virginia and is the first of three independent segments to be widened. The fast-tracked project was delivered in 22 months at a cost of $122 million. The project was the first to make use of Hampton Roads Transportation Fund revenues, with $44 million of funding provided by the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission. 

Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne said, “Today’s event is truly a celebration of these types of significant improvements, which is exactly what is needed to build and maintain a reliable transportation systems that are essential to growing the new Virginia economy.”

Segment I work also included the repair and widening of four bridges at Fort Eustis Boulevard and the Lee Hall Reservoir, the lengthening of on-and-off ramps at Fort Eustis Boulevard, and the addition of low-maintenance landscaping along the corridor’s median.

Work is already underway on the widening of Segment II to Route 199.  Over the next four years, another travel lane and shoulder will be added in each direction along 15 miles of I-64, all the way to exit 234 (Lightfoot).

VDOT Announces 2018 Toll Relief Program Enrollment Period

RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Transportation today announced the start of the 2018 Toll Relief Program enrollment period. Toll Relief, the first program of its kind in the nation, provides meaningful financial relief to qualified Norfolk and Portsmouth residents. The in-person enrollment period is Dec. 1, 2017, through Feb. 15, 2018, at the E-ZPass Customer Service Centers in Norfolk and Portsmouth. Toll Relief benefits will begin March 1, 2018.

“This is the second year we’ve been able to offer eligible Norfolk and Portsmouth residents with help paying Elizabeth River Tunnels’ tolls,” said Deputy Secretary of Transportation Grindly Johnson. “Toll Relief provides much-needed financial assistance to those who need it the most.”

To qualify for Toll Relief, participants must:

• Reside in Norfolk or Portsmouth
• Earn $30,000 or less per year
• Have or open a Virginia E-ZPass account
• Record eight trips or more during a calendar month through the Downtown or Midtown tunnels

Once a qualified participant’s Virginia E-ZPass transponder records eight or more trips through the Downtown or Midtown tunnels during a calendar month, a one-dollar refund will be credited to his or her Virginia E-ZPass account.

Elizabeth River Crossings, operators of the Elizabeth River Tunnels, is paying the commonwealth $500,000 a year for 10 years to help offset the cost of tolls on those users most financially stressed.

For more information on Toll Relief, visit www.vdottollrelief.com or call 855-530-5506.

New Jamestown-Scotland Ferry Vessel Named

SUFFOLK- The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) by unanimous approval, today voted to name the newest boat in the Jamestown Scotland Ferry system the Powhatan.

There has been a return to the naming of ferries after important historical figures, including the most recent ferry boat Pocahontas, which was built in 1995.  Powhatan was Pocahontas’ father and was chief of all the Algonquin tribes in the area.

The CTB naming resolution states the Powhatan represents “a strong name for a strong vessel.” 

The new vessel, with a 70-vehicle capacity, is under construction in Pascagoula, Mississippi and is expected to be delivered to VDOT in spring 2018. The name of the new vessel needs to be placed on the boat before it is christened later this year.

The James City County and Surry County Boards of Supervisors both submitted resolutions of support to the CTB for the name Powhatan. The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation also submitted a letter to the CTB encouraging VDOT to utilize the opportunity presented by the ferry naming to “highlight the story of Powhatan in an appropriate way on board the ship.”

The ferry project is included in the commonwealth’s Six-Year-Improvement Plan for 2013-2018, with $2.5 million currently allocated for design, and $25 million allocated for construction in FY 2017-2018.

The Powhatan will replace the ferry boat Virginia which was built in 1936. The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry system transports approximately 936,000 vehicles annually and is the only 24-hour, state-run ferry in Virginia.

Inside the Beltway Express Lanes Opening in December

New rush hour express lanes are opening inside the beltway this December!  Go to  http://66expresslanes.org/ for details!

VDOT Funds and Equipment in Place for Snow

RICHMOND, Virginia –The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is ready for Old Man Winter when he decides to come calling.

Staffing, equipment and materials are in place for snow when it starts to fall.

“We prepare for winter year round,” said VDOT Commissioner Charles Kilpatrick. “Our crews have the staff, materials and equipment in place to battle winter weather when it arrives.”

Snow removal resources:

• More than $210 million set aside for winter weather
• More than 2,500 VDOT crewmembers, in addition to contractors, available for snow removal statewide
• More than 12,300 pieces of snow-removal equipment, including trucks, loaders and motor graders
• More than 689,000 tons of salt, sand and treated abrasives and more than 1.6 million gallons of liquid calcium chloride and salt brine

What’s interesting about snow removal:

Online snowplow tracker – If snow reaches two inches or more, VDOT activates an online neighborhood tracking map.

Most VDOT trucks are equipped with automatic vehicle location technology, and many of them can be monitored on the tracker during snow removal operations.

Making use of runoff – VDOT loads salt onto snow-removal trucks on a paved area called a mixing pad. Since that area is normally wet during the loading process, the runoff is directed either to impermeable ponds or underground tanks.

Many of VDOT’s salt facilities are reusing some of this water from the ponds or tanks to produce brine, a solution of salt and water, to turn an environmental challenge – disposing of that runoff – into something useful.

VDOT applies brine to roads before winter storms as conditions allow.

Brine can prevent frozen precipitation from bonding to the pavement, and it reduces the overall amount of salt used.

Brine is also more environmentally friendly than salt.

Online:

• Go to VDOT winter weather for more information.
• Watch VDOT Prepares for Snow and How to Properly Shovel your Driveway.
• Call 511 or go to 511virginia.org for the latest road conditions and traffic information.

VDOT Incident Management Open House

To kick off Federal Highway Administration’s National Traffic Incident Response Week, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is hosting its first-ever Incident Management Open House on Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northern Virginia District Office, located at 4975 Alliance Drive in Fairfax. Veterans Day weekend is also a wonderful time to recognize the many veterans, who after serving their country, continue a career of public service. This is a free event!

An outdoor touch-a-truck exhibit will feature a simulated crash scene that will allow the public to see an incident scene from the perspective of first responders who work in the roadway every day. Participating agencies include:

• VDOT: special event truck, evacuation trailer, spill trailer, front-end loader, dump truck, Safety Service Patrol trucks, signal maintenance truck and a full-size overhead sign
• Coleman Motor Company: 50-ton rotator truck
• Dominion Energy: bucket truck
• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department: fire engine, medic unit, rescue squad
• Fairfax County Police Department: traffic response vehicle
• Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office: traffic truck
• Prince William County Police Department: crash response vehicle, motorcycles
• Redman Fleet Services: 85-ton rotator truck
• Stafford County Sheriff’s Office: traffic truck, drone
• Transurban: Express Assist Help truck
• Virginia State Police: mobile command unit, cruiser, Leica system

Find more info and sign up here.

How Will You Want To Get Around In 2040?

Virginia’s transportation leaders are considering how technology, generational values, and other factors may transform our transportation and mobility in the future. 

We’d like your input on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 

Please follow the link below to an interactive online survey that will spark your imagination and help us inform the future!

 VTrans2040Scenarios.metroquest.com

 For more information about VTrans2040, visit http://www.vtrans2040.com/.

Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements Meeting Nov. 6

ALEXANDRIA – The Virginia Department of Transportation is holding a public information meeting Monday, Nov. 6 on preliminary plans to widen Richmond Highway from four to six lanes between Jeff Todd Way and Napper Road. This project aims to increase capacity, decrease congestion, and improve safety for all users.

In this meeting, residents will be able to learn more about preliminary design concepts under consideration, including innovative intersection options.

The project includes several improvements for bicycle and pedestrian users on both sides of the road, as well as preserving the median width necessary to accommodate Fairfax County’s future planned Bus Rapid Transit. Preliminary engineering has been fully funded by federal, state, and county sources, as well as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.          

The public is invited to stop by between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School, 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road, Alexandria, VA 22039 to learn more about the project, review preliminary design plans and provide input. VDOT staff will be available to answer questions.

A presentation will begin at 7 p.m.

Comments may be provided at the meeting or sent to VDOT by Dec. 6, 2017. Email or mail comments to Mr. William Dunn, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. 

Visit www.virginiadot.org/richmondhighway for more details.

New I-95 Express Lanes Southern Terminus Opens Oct. 31

FREDERICKSBURG – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is opening a 2-mile extension of Interstate 95 Express Lanes in Stafford County today, adding new northbound and southbound ramps ahead of schedule.

The $50 million project extends Express Lanes beyond the flyover ramp where they previously ended, just north of Route 610 (Garrisonville Road). 

“We know we have more work to do on I-95, as recent congestion reports have reminded us, but this Express Lanes extension is the first step in a series of projects to unlock gridlock along I-95 through the Fredericksburg region,” said Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne. 

Virginia is investing more than $800 million over the next five years on I-95 projects in the Fredericksburg region. Six I-95 projects are expected to open to traffic in the Fredericksburg area by the end of 2022 to deliver relief and improved driving conditions. 

“Merging and weaving near the Garrisonville Road interchange has contributed to delays for drivers in the Express Lanes and the main lanes,” said VDOT Commissioner Charles Kilpatrick. “This extension will not resolve all of the congestion challenges on I-95, but it will reduce conflict points that are intensifying traffic slowdowns during the peak morning and afternoon commutes.”

Using the new extension, I-95 northbound traffic will be able to enter Express Lanes earlier at a new left entrance before the Garrisonville Road overpass.

Southbound Express Lanes traffic heading to Fredericksburg will be able to continue past Garrisonville and merge about one mile south of Garrisonville Road.

The extension will operate under the same rules and reversal schedule as the current 95 Express Lanes. 

Transurban, the current operator of the 95 Express Lanes, contributed $25 million to help support the extension.  

“We hope that this extension helps all travelers in this congested portion of I-95 and we ask customers to be alert and travel safely as they adjust to the new traffic pattern,” said Jennifer Aument, Group General Manager, Transurban North America. “We look forward to partnering with Virginia to continue to enhance the 95 corridor in Stafford County.” 

The new southbound ramp will open to traffic this afternoon. The new northbound ramp will open early Wednesday, Nov. 1. 

Construction on the extension began in July 2016. The project’s design-build team is Branch Civil, Inc., and Whitman, Requardt & Associates. 

Construction of a new noise barrier adjacent to I-95 southbound south of Garrisonville Road will continue after the extension and ramps open to traffic.

The project is a joint investment by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Transurban.

Transurban operates the existing 29-mile Express Lanes facility that opened in December 2014, and will be responsible or maintenance and operations of the two-mile extension. 

Around 146,000 vehicles a day travel I-95 near Garrisonville Road.  

I-95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension 

A separate project is under development to extend Express Lanes by an additional 10 miles. 

The I-95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension project would build a reversible two-lane section of lanes as far south as the vicinity of the Route 17 interchange. New access to Express Lanes is proposed near the Route 17 and Route 630 (Courthouse Road) interchanges in Stafford, and at the Russell Road interchange at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

For more information on the I-95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension project, please visit the project page at www.VirginiaDOT.org. 

Partial project funding for the I-95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension was included in the Atlantic Gateway grant application. Virginia was awarded a $165 million FASTLANE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2016 for Atlantic Gateway, a $1.4 billion package of highway, transit and rail projects in the I-95 corridor.

Express Lanes Explained with Virginia Deputy Secretary of Transportation...

I-64 Widening Project Goes Green: Cold Central Plant Recycling

Transportation Board Awards Two Contracts Worth $414.9 Million

HOT SPRINGS, Virginia – The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved two contracts at their monthly meeting today totaling $414.9 million for maintenance and construction projects in the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Hampton Roads and Salem districts.

• I-64 will be widened and a new High Rise Bridge constructed in the City of Chesapeake

 A $409.6 million contract was awarded to Granite / Parsons / Corman Joint Venture of Tarrytown, New York, to widen about eight miles of Interstate 64 and construct a new High Rise Bridge adjacent to the existing span in the Hampton Roads District. The award is the largest design-build contract in VDOT history.

The project will widen I-64 from four to six lanes, beginning half a mile east of the Interstate 264 interchange at Bowers Hill, to one mile east of the Interstate 464 interchange.

The widening will add one High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane in each direction to the existing two general purpose lanes.

The new fixed-span High Rise Bridge will be built just south of the existing High Rise Bridge to carry the three lanes of I-64 west traffic over the Elizabeth River.

The existing High Rise Bridge will continue to operate and will carry three lanes of I-64 east traffic upon completion of the project.

The project will include replacement of the overpass bridge at Great Bridge Boulevard and realignment of the associated roadway.

The existing bridges carrying I-64 over Military Highway, Yadkin Road and Shell Road will be widened.

The project is being paid for with a combination of funds from the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission and the state’s SMART SCALE program.

The project is expected to be complete in summer 2021.

It is designed to accommodate a future Phase 2 project, which will expand the corridor to a total of eight lanes and replace the existing High Rise Bridge.

• Two bridges will be replaced on Route 11 over Tinker Creek in Botetourt County

A $5.3 million contract was awarded to Orders Construction Co. Inc. of St. Albans, West Virginia, to replace two aging bridges carrying Route 11 (Lee Highway) over Tinker Creek in the Salem District.

One bridge is located near Cloverdale, and the second is located just north of Route 838 (Vista Drive).

The existing bridges were built in 1923 and 1932, respectively. The new structures will be wider and will provide 10-foot shoulders in both directions.

The project is expected to be complete in fall 2019. 

The following chart tracks the dollar amount of major contracts the CTB has awarded in calendar year 2017:

 

In advance of each CTB meeting, VDOT Commissioner Charles Kilpatrick also approves contracts up to $5 million in value.

From the Sept. 27, 2017, bid letting, the commissioner approved seven contracts worth approximately $9.93 million for construction and maintenance projects on Virginia’s interstates and primary and secondary roads.

Appointed by the governor, the 17-member CTB establishes the administrative policies for Virginia's transportation system.

The CTB allocates highway funding to specific projects, locates routes and provides funding for airports, seaports and public transportation.

The board normally meets on the third Wednesday of the month in months when action meetings are scheduled.

 For more information:

• Final bid results and projects: http://www.virginiadot.org/business/const/bidresults-list.asp
• CTB meeting, times and locations: http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/public_meetings/schedule_overview/default.asp 

Contract Awarded To Build New High Rise Bridge

SUFFOLK, Va. – The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $409.6 million contract Tuesday to Granite/Parsons/Corman, Joint Venture of Tarrytown, NY, to widen about 8 miles of Interstate 64 and construct a new High Rise Bridge adjacent to the existing span in the Hampton Roads District. The award is the largest design-build contract in Virginia Department of Transportation history.

The project will widen I-64 from four to six lanes beginning half a mile east of the Interstate 264 interchange at Bowers Hill to one mile east of the Interstate 464 interchange. The widening will add one High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane in each direction to the existing two general purpose lanes.

The new fixed-span High Rise Bridge will be built just south of the existing High Rise Bridge to carry the three lanes of I-64 west traffic over the Elizabeth River. The new bridge will provide 100-foot vertical clearance over the river. The existing High Rise Bridge will continue to operate and will carry three lanes of I-64 east traffic upon completion of the project. The project will include replacement of the overpass bridge at Great Bridge Boulevard and realignment of the associated roadway. The existing bridges carrying I-64 over Military Highway, Yadkin Road and Shell Road will be widened.

The project is being paid for with a combination of funds from the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission and the state’s SMART SCALE program.

As part of the contract, civil infrastructure, including gantries and signs, will be completed for the new HOT lanes and Intelligent Transportation Systems.

The project is expected to be complete in summer 2021. It is designed to accommodate a future Phase 2 project, which will expand the corridor to a total of eight lanes and replace the existing High Rise Bridge.

To subscribe to updates on the 64 High Rise Bridge Project, sign up here. For more on the project, visit www.64HighRise.org.

I-95 Express Lanes Southern Terminus Extension To Open Ahead Of Schedule

I-95 EXPRESS LANES SOUTHERN TERMINUS EXTENSION IN STAFFORD COUNTY OPENING TUESDAY, OCT. 31
New two-mile expansion adds new Express Lanes entrance and exit ramps south of Exit 143 at Garrisonville Road

FREDERICKSBURG – A project to extend Interstate 95 Express Lanes by two miles in Stafford County, adding new northbound and southbound ramps, will open to traffic ahead of schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017.

The $50 million project extends Express Lanes beyond the flyover ramp where they end today, just north of Route 610 (Garrisonville Road). 

The new southbound ramp will open to traffic on the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 31. The new northbound ramp will open early Wednesday, Nov. 1.

What Drivers Need to Know

The extension will operate under the same rules and reversal schedule as the current 95 Express Lanes.

When the extension opens, I-95 northbound traffic will be able to enter Express Lanes earlier at a new left entrance before the Garrisonville Road overpass.

Southbound Express Lanes traffic heading to Fredericksburg will be able to continue past Garrisonville and merge about one mile south of the Garrisonville Road exit.

All drivers need an E-ZPass to use the Express Lanes. Carpools need an E-ZPass Flex and three or more people in the vehicle to travel toll-free.

Project Background

Construction on the extension began in July 2016. The project’s design-build team is Branch Civil, Inc., and Whitman, Requardt & Associates.

The project is a joint investment by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Transurban.

Transurban operates the existing 29-mile Express Lanes facility that opened in December 2014, and will be responsible for maintenance and operations of the two-mile extension.

Around 146,000 vehicles a day travel I-95 near Garrisonville Road. 

More information on the I-95 Express Lanes Southern Terminus Extension project is available online at the project pageat www.VirginiaDOT.org.

Governor Announces Approval of Federal Loan for I-66 Public-Private Partnerships

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued their approval to provide a $1.2 billion Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan for the I-66 Outside the Beltway public-private partnership transportation project.

The TIFIA loan represents 33 percent of the project’s total cost. The Commonwealth’s private partner on the I-66 Outside the Beltway Project, a consortium of Cintra, Meridiam, Ferrovial Agroman US and Allan Myers, known as Express Mobility Partners (EMP) are responsible for designing, building, financing, operating, and maintaining the I-66 project.

“The I-66 Outside the Beltway project is a prime example of how working collaboratively and creatively with all parties can achieve major transportation improvements that benefit and protect Virginia taxpayers,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Securing a TIFIA loan was critical to the Commonwealth and its private partner’s ability to move forward and deliver this important public-private partnership transportation project. I am proud of the bipartisan work this administration has done to reform Virginia’s P3 program to increase competition, accountability and transparency in P3 projects.”

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and EMP team have been working to develop design plans for the express lanes project. Financial close for the overall project is expected this November. The public will have an opportunity to review and provide comments on the latest project design plans at public hearings scheduled on November 13, 14 and 16. Initial construction will begin later this year, and heavy construction throughout the entire corridor is expected to be in full swing in the spring of 2018.

Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne added, “Today’s milestone of achieving a TIFIA loan will allow the express lanes project on I-66 Outside the Beltway to move ahead, providing much-needed new choices and improving travel on I-66.” Secretary Layne continued, “This achievement could not have happened without a strong partnership between the USDOT, Commonwealth, communities in Northern Virginia, and EMP. We appreciate our partners’ hard work and shared commitment to get this critical project completed.”

“This is an important milestone in securing our project financing package, and we are focused on achieving full financial close in the near future,” commented Javier Gutierrez, chief executive officer for I-66 Express Mobility Partners. “Once we achieve financial close, our focus will be on securing design approvals and beginning construction on this transformational project. We have been working closely with our partners at VDOT, our design-build contractor FAM Construction, and the local community to ensure that we deliver a dramatically improved travel experience on a safer, more efficient I-66.”

The project requires zero public investment and Virginia’s private partner will provide an upfront payment of approximately $500 million that will be used to fund additional transportation improvements in the corridor. Additionally, the comprehensive agreement requires EMP to pay a net present value of $800 million for transit service in the corridor and $350 million for other projects to improve the I-66 corridor over the next 50 years.

The project will modify nearly 23 miles of I-66 providing two express lanes alongside three regular lanes from I-495 to Route 29 in Gainesville in each direction, with dedicated express lane access points, and space in the median reserved for future transit. In addition, the project consists of 4,000 park-n-ride spaces, new and expanded bus service throughout the corridor, safety and operational improvements at key interchanges, auxiliary lanes between interchanges, and bicycle and pedestrian upgrades.

The express lanes are scheduled to open in 2022.

Driverless Cars Are Coming To Atlanta. Are We Ready?

On September 14, like any other day, a car will leave the Georgia Tech campus, turn onto North Avenue, and travel a mile and a half due east through Midtown and the Old Fourth Ward to reach Ponce City Market.

What’s different: This car—part of a joint pilot project by Tech and City Hall among others—will be guided on its voyage by a network of sensors, transmitters, Wi-Fi hotspots, GPS receivers, and other gizmos installed along the route and embedded in the vehicle that provide the real-time information needed to avoid obstacles and follow traffic rules. A person will be behind the wheel in case technology fails, but a computer will be in charge.

Read the rest of the story here.

Smart Cities: Why Now?

The US Department of Transportation’s Smart Cities Challenge was just the latest event to expose the growing interest for cities using technological solutions to solve pressing transportation problems like reducing transportation costs while also making it easier to get around, making housing more affordable and ensuring that low-income residents benefit from our increasingly prosperous cities.

Read the story here.

VDOT: Flashing Yellow Arrows

VDOT's Susan Shaw Receives National Honor

FAIRFAX, Va. – Susan N. Shaw, the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Northern Virginia Megaprojects Director, was recognized by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials at its annual meeting Wednesday in Phoenix, Arizona for a career overseeing major transportation improvements in Northern Virginia, totaling more than $3 billion.

 The Alfred E. Johnson Achievement Award recognizes an outstanding contribution in the field of highway engineering or management.

VDOT's Susan Shaw receives AASHTO Alfred E. Johnson Achievement Award.

As Megaprojects Director, Susan oversees major design-build and public-private partnership (P3) projects, including the current $2.3 billion project to build Express Lanes on Interstate 66 outside the Beltway that will break ground later this year.

Susan is a familiar face to many of the residents surrounding her projects, as she has long been the backbone of her projects’ outreach over the years. In early development of the I-66 Express Lanes project, she personally attended or supported more than 280 public and stakeholder meetings – often meeting in neighborhood cul-de-sacs and residents’ homes to talk specifically about project impacts and answer questions.

“Susan is a true ambassador for VDOT with stakeholders of all levels, and has been relentless in her dedication to delivering results for the Commonwealth and the public,” said VDOT Commissioner Charles Kilpatrick. “She is a genuine public servant due to her many hours working with the public interested in and impacted by our projects as well as an elite and innovative engineer, manager and leader.”

Since joining VDOT in 1997, Susan’s many successes include leading the nearly $1 billion I-95 Express Lanes project in partnership with Transurban, managing an ongoing $400 million public-private partnership on Route 28 since 2002, and building a design-build program that was the first of its kind in the state, delivering an array of projects totaling $1 billion.

"Every year it is AASHTO's privilege to recognize the extraordinary people, projects and programs that are making transportation safer and more reliable for everyone," said AASHTO Executive Director Bud Wright. "Susan is a truly remarkable innovator who demonstrates the kind of can-do spirit America will need to keep up with the transformational technologies emerging in transportation today."

Also recognized this year by AASHTO was the Route 50 Traffic-Calming Project in Middleburg, with a regional America’s Transportation Award for Quality of Life and Community Development, and the I-66 Active Traffic Management System, which won a regional award for Operations Excellence and moved on to compete against 11 other states for an AASHTO People’s Choice Award. 

VDOT: Belmont Ridge Road Bridge over W&OD Trail

VDOT: I-64 Widening Construction: July / August 2017

VDOT Helps Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads

VDOT: Tunnel Flagger

Improving Snow Plowing Operations with Mobile GIS

VDOT: What’s That Roundabout About? Driving I-81 Exit 150’s New Interchange

VDOT: We Keep Virginia Moving - James Courtney

A Right to the Road: Understanding & Addressing Bicyclist Safety

As traffic fatalities are up across the board, bicyclist deaths rose 12.2% in 2015, the largest percentage increase of any other roadway user group that year. To address this troubling trend, GHSA and State Farm® have partnered on a new report, A Right to the Road: Understanding & Addressing Bicyclist Safety. 

This publication analyzes national data to understand fatal bicyclist-motor vehicle crash characteristics, offering 30 actions steps to help State Highway Safety Offices and local communities assess and improve their current bicyclist safety programs.

Chief among these recommendations are collecting better crash data, increasing training for law enforcement to understand laws designed to protect bicyclists, partnering with bicycling and community organizations to amplify safety messaging, and coupling infrastructure improvements with public education campaigns.

This comprehensive report was authored by traffic safety expert Pam Fischer, with data analysis performed by Richard Retting of Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants.

Download the report here.

Denver's Bet On Transportation Pays Off

Tom Clark can cite the exact moment in 1997 when metro Denver’s economic leaders became convinced that a more comprehensive rail and bus network was critical to the region’s prosperity. They were talking to executives at Level 3 Communications about a potential relocation, but their prospects were balking. They were afraid that without transit, Denver’s potential workforce was effectively cut in half because of congestion on I-70, the main east-west interstate artery.

There were challenges in going to voters for transit funding at that stage, however. Denver International Airport, the area’s major infrastructure project of the 1990s, had been plagued with billion-dollar cost overruns and an automated baggage system that had to be scrapped. The public’s trust in local government’s ability to pull off large projects was at an all-time low, leading in part to the recent defeat of an ambitious but vaguely defined transit initiative called Guide The Ride.“They were the catalytic piece of us deciding that we really had to get serious and get transit back on the ballot again,” said Clark, CEO of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. “It was one of those a-ha moments in your life where you just go ‘Wow, this has real economic implications.’”

Read the rest of the story here.

“TIGER” Transportation Projects Showcase Innovation Across America

Over the course of eight batches starting in February 2010, The US Department of Transportation has awarded over $4 billion for innovative transportation projects that address economic, environmental and travel issues at once. The TIGER program, as its known (Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery), is a competitive and merit-based process to pick projects.

Almost all of these projects have a hard time getting funded under the outdated structure of the current federal transportation program. These projects in communities across the country will create good paying jobs, spur local economic development, and keep our metro and rural areas connected. Winning project applications have to show multiple benefits: 1) that projects improve the condition of existing facilities and systems, 2) contribute to the economic competitiveness of the U.S. over the medium- to long-term, 3) improve the quality of living and working environments for people, 4) improve energy efficiency, reduce dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and benefit the environment, and 5) improve public safety.

Read the rest of the story here.