Lower Tolls On I-66 Demanded By NoVa Commission

VIENNA, VA—Drivers expressing outrage over the new toll prices on Interstate 66 has prompted transportation commission members to seek action on lowering the tolls. Since tolls began Monday, tolls reached a peak of $40 at 8:09 a.m. Tuesday and $34.50 at 8:36 a.m. Monday. Tolls are in effect Monday-Friday 5:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. for all eastbound lanes and 3 p.m.-7 p.m. for westbound lanes, unless the driver is carpooling and has an E-Z Pass Flex set to HOV-2.

Republican members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission plan to introduce a resolution Thursday requesting state officials lower and reconfigure the tolls, The Washington Post reports. The resolution also calls for the toll times to change back to 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. eastbound and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. westbound.

“Virginians cannot afford tolls more than $35, $20, or even $10 each way every day," the resolution reads.

Toll revenue goes toward improving travel options in the I-66 corridor. Ron Meyer, a supervisor in Loudoun County and member of the transportation commission, says the revenue helps with projects but believe the cost is too high for drivers.

“This is just way over the top,” Meyer told NBC Washington. “It's only affordable for people who are mega millionaires, and it's just not appropriate."

Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said although the tolls are higher than residents expected, they're meant to change commuter habits and get more people, not cars, through the corridor. “No one has to pay a toll,” he said, according to The Post.

Layne said the Virginia Department of Transportation could explore toll changes and a cap. But there are no plans to change the dynamic tolling system that changes prices based on demand to keep traffic at a certain speed.

VDOT reports that the average speed Tuesday morning was 54 mph, while Monday morning's average speed was 57 mph. As the average speed is 36 miles per hour, average commutes were 10 to 12 minutes, compared to the typical 15 to 25 minutes.

The new tolling system has resulted in some drivers choosing alternate routes, such as the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Route 123 and Route 29. But VDOT data shows Routes, 7, 29, 123 and 193 overall had minimal changes Tuesday morning, while commute times were longer on Route 50 due to a crash.

Either way, Patch readers say they're scrambling to find alternatives.

Patch reader Darla says her husband would rather adjust his work schedule to avoid the tolls. "My husband left for work at 4:45 AM this morning and said that 66 was packed. Hopefully, he will be able to leave his office by 2:30 to avoid the tolls," she wrote.

Adds Jose Martinez, "I make $26k per year, how do these new lanes help me? I can never afford to use them."

Others lament the impact on local roads.

Reader Greg Crider says, "I, along with many others, won't be paying the tolls. As a result, alternative routes will be clogged."

Francesca Gutowski adds, "It was obvious that tolls on 66 would put traffic on our local streets including Rt 123-which is a local street to residents of Mclean."

Solo drivers are charged through E-Z Pass accounts by passing under the new toll scanners. Drivers without E-Z pass are not permitted to use the road. If they do, a camera will capture their license plate number and they will be billed in the mail with an extra charge. The Virginia Department of Transportation says 14 percent of Tuesday morning drivers did not have an E-Z Pass.

VDOT said that "Drivers who missed a toll or traveled without a transponder can visit 66expresslanes.org and select 'Missed a Toll,' and enter their license plate. The transaction will show within three days of travel, and can be paid within six days of travel to avoid receiving a violation notice."

The I-66 dynamically tolling system is the first of its kind and draws a contrast with 95 and 495, which offer express and regular lanes.

Image via VDOT