Transurban Suggests Toll Use For Seminary Road-395 Ramp

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Transurban, which operates toll lanes on Interstate 395, has proposed analyzing the addition of high occupancy toll (HOT) traffic on the south-facing ramp from 395 onto Seminary Road, according to a memo to Alexandria City Council. The city has opposed an HOT use on the ramp due to potential cut-through traffic implications and wants further analysis and public input.

The south-facing ramp to Seminary Road, which serves points south of 395, opened in 2016. The city intended for the ramp to only accommodate only high occupancy vehicle (HOV) and transit traffic going north during mornings and south in evenings. Meanwhile the north-facing ramp is intended to serve HOV, transit and HOT traffic.

The HOT proposal comes as 395 Express Lanes extension is underway. Transurban is extending Express Lanes for eight miles north from Turkeycock Run near Edsall Road to the Eads Street area in Arlington. Two existing HOV lanes are being converted to reversible HOT lanes, and a third lane is being added.

After the city learned of Transurban's intended study of HOT use in October, Mayor Allison Silberberg wrote to the Virginia Department of Transportation reiterating the city's opposition and call for traffic analyses.

"The City's position has long been and continues to be one of strongly opposing the use of the Seminary HOV ramp for HOT-lane purposes because of the concern about the impact of cut-through traffic," reads the letter. "It is important that traffic analyses are conducted so that the discussion between the Alexandria community and VDOT/Transurban can be based on data and measured impact to our residential neighborhoods."

VDOT and Transurban are responsible for analyses and collecting public input. A subsequent meeting between the city, VDOT and Transurban indicated traffic data collection is happening during October and November. There is no timeframe for the analysis at this time.

The city's Complete Streets study of Seminary Road has been delayed until evaluation of the HOT proposal would happen.

For more about the Seminary Road interchange study, visit the city's web page.

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