A September 20 ribbon-cutting ushers in what should be the start of some relief along the Interstate 66 corridor in Northern Virginia into D.C. If commuters and travelers are willing to try other means besides their drive-alone cars, they will likely find a less-maddening way to get around. Ten multimodal projects were announced that will be designed to make it so car travel isn’t the only game in town.
“This is one of the most congested roads in the United States of America, and for too long we kicked the can down the road,” said Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D). “These improvements are our first steps in creating what we call a ‘carpool culture.’”
The projects, part of I-66 Commuter Choice Inside the Beltway Program, will move up to 5,000 more people through the I-66 corridor during each rush hour, officials said. Many local jurisdictions will benefit from the projects; four already are operational and six will be when I-66 rush-hour toll lanes open in December.
Arlington County will see a $462,000 project to consolidate under-used and closely spaced bus stops on Washington Boulevard and Lee Highway, and $1 million and $450,000 initiatives, respectively, to expand peak-period service on Metrobus Route 2A and ART bus Route 55.
Arlington also will receive a $350,000 project to expand transportation-demand management in the I-66 corridor; and a $250,000 project to add multi-modal, real-time information displays at four Metrorail stops on I-66, some highly used bus stops and residential and commercial buildings in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.
Fairfax County will benefit from a nearly $3.34 million initiative to provide weekday, peak-period Fairfax Connector express-bus service between the county’s government center and the U.S. State Department/Foggy Bottom area in Washington, D.C.
Falls Church will get expanded transit access via a $500,000 Capital Bikeshare program, including 16 more Bikeshare stations.
A $1.94 million project in Loudoun County will construct a 300-space park-and-ride lot and provide two years of operation for a new commuter-bus service from Aldie. In addition, a $623,000 expansion of the Loudoun County Transportation Demand Management project will offer I-66 commuters incentives to use transit or join carpools or vanpools.
Prince William County also will benefit, as an $887,000 Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission initiative (now operational) will offer commuter-bus service between Gainesville and the Pentagon.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission soon will start a process to identify the next multi-modal projects to improve I-66 commuting, McAuliffe said.
“After years of dysfunction on I-66 – everybody pointing each way, no one willing to take responsibility, nobody willing to come together – those days are over,” McAuliffe said.