I-66 Tolls Coming Inside Beltway: Board Votes 'Yes' Wednesday

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information from VDOT.

Starting in 2017, solo drivers will pay a toll during expanded commuter hours inside the Beltway on Interstate 66, according to a plan OK’d Wednesday morning by Virginia’s Transportation Board.

WTOP reports that construction of electronic toll signs will start this summer.

Here’s more about what’s coming:

Tolling will be implemented on I-66 Inside the Beltway in the peak commute direction during expanded commuter hours, with HOV-2+ vehicles riding for free. By no later than 2020, vehicles will be required to have three or more people to travel for free.

Unlike today, where travel on this stretch of I-66 is limited to HOV-2 only (except for Dulles Airport traffic or hybrids with special license plates) during peak periods, the new toll (or dynamically-priced) lanes would provide drivers with new choices – take transit or carpool as HOV-2+ and travel for free – or pay a toll and use the lanes. Motorcycles would ride the lanes for free as well.

By no later than 2020, vehicles will be required to have three or more people to travel for free.

Heavy trucks would be prohibited from the lanes. The lanes would remain free to all traffic during off-peak periods.

It is envisioned that VDOT would manage the tolling on I-66 Inside the Beltway. Toll revenues will be reinvested in the I-66 Corridor to fund multimodal improvements that will benefit toll payers and the overall mobility of the I-66 Corridor.