HOT Lane Plan Has Pitfalls, But We Must Persevere
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This letter comes from a daily user of the carpool lanes between Springfield and the Pentagon. It reflects widespread concerns about Virginia's still-incomplete plan to replace the high-occupancy vehicle lanes on Interstate 95/395 with high-occupancy toll lanes.
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
The plan states that there will be no impact to current carpools, including slugs; however, everyone will be required to purchase or rent a transponder. The transponder will likely have to be tied to a credit card, and everyone will have another account to monitor. The transponder required is not E-ZPass, since it will include a switch to indicate high-occupancy vehicle or high-occupancy toll.
The two full-size shoulders will be reduced to one that is 2 1/2 feet wide and one that is 10 feet wide. This reduces the area available for emergencies or traffic enforcement.
Two of the lanes will be reduced to 11 feet wide. Will this require a reduction in the current 65 mph speed limit?
Many new access points and exit ramps will be added. Each of these will create a bottleneck. The current flow of traffic slows at every entrance ramp to allow oncoming traffic to enter. More ramps -- more bottlenecks -- slower speeds.
The toll will be adjustable while you are traveling. We don't think it is safe to talk on a cellphone while driving, but mentally calculating the cost for the next segment of one's commute is safe?
-- William R. Aldridge, Springfield
This is Part 1 of Aldridge's good questions. More from him and from VDOT in another column.
