The planning board that oversees regional transportation projects on Wednesday advanced a modified High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes plan along I-95, as well as a reversible on-off ramp to increase access to the Mark Center in Alexandria.
Under the first project, a $1 billion public-private plan, HOV/HOT lanes would eventually extend from about two miles north of I-495 to Route 610 in Stafford County. Construction is projected to start in 2012 and could be completed as early as 2015. A federal environmental review is also required.
The HOT lanes were originally supposed to run along a six-mile stretch of I-395 as well, but the state abandoned that section and re-crafted the project in the wake of a lawsuit brought forth by Arlington County.
The National Capital Regional Transportation Planning Board (TPB) also gave initial approval to a reversible ramp that would connect Seminary Road to I-395 HOV lanes in Alexandria to provide better access to the Mark Center site. More than 6,000 Defense Department employees are scheduled to move to the site in September as part of the federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) plan.
The projected completion date for that project, however, isn’t until 2015.
The board voted to approve the projects for air quality testing on Wednesday. After that analysis finishes up, the board would vote in the fall to amend the region’s long-range plan to include them.
Other projects to be included in the air quality analysis are:
• Converting one of the five one-way lanes on H Street NW in the District of Columbia to a bus-only lane during peak travel periods.
• Constructing and operating a streetcar system connecting Crystal City in Arlington County with Potomac Yard in Alexandria.
• Widening of U.S. 1 from four lanes to six from VA 235 to the Prince William County line.
• Widening of I-66 general purpose and HOV lanes from U.S. 15 to U.S. 29.
