Alexandria residents on Saturday urged the city council to formally oppose plans to build High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes down I-95/395 and join Arlington County’s lawsuit concerning the project.
Citizens urged the council to take a stronger stand against the proposed HOT lanes after council members in March passed a resolution withholding their support until issues such as environmental documentation were “adequately addressed.”
“We really need the council now to pass a resolution opposing the project and joining Arlington’s lawsuit,” said Gregory Cota, a member of the city’s traffic and parking board.
Arlington County filed a lawsuit last month against the Federal Highway Administration and the commonwealth of Virginia, arguing that they failed to fully assess the environmental and public health impacts of the plan.
Jack Sullivan, speaking on behalf of Alexandria’s Seminary Hill Association, said he was not necessarily asking the city to join with Arlington’s suit, but urged officials to take some form of legal action — and soon.
“Immediate legal action is the only way…we’re going to have any protection against our quality of life,” he said.
City officials were amenable to the concerns, but also said that simply joining with Arlington’s lawsuit might not be in the city’s best interest.
“This is not in or out — you have to be careful,” said deputy city attorney Christopher Spera. “We’re going to do it carefully, we’re going to do it right…and make an intelligent and informed choice.”
Spera, as well as councilmember Paul Smedberg, pointed out that the two jurisdictions may not share identical interests, as Arlington County is a terminus point of the project, with Alexandria next in line.
“The terminus issue is a big issue here,” said Smedberg. “We…need to know what we want as a community.”
Vice Mayor Kerry Donley raised the possibility of pursuing state litigation against the project through local delegates.
“If there is sentiment to stop a state project,” state litigation might be the way to go, he said.
There is a work session on the matter scheduled for next month.
