Alliance Applauds Maryland Selection of HOT Lanes as Recommended Preferred Alternative
Alliance Applauds Maryland Selection of HOT Lanes
as Recommended Preferred Alternative
Today the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration announced Alternative 9 – two new HOT Lanes in each direction – as the recommended preferred alternative for the I-495/I-270 Managed Lane Study.
“The Alliance applauds MDOT SHA for moving forward with the option that provides the greatest long-term benefit for the DC area,” said Jason Stanford, president of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance. “Alternative 9 will greatly improve our region’s multimodal connectivity, save Maryland taxpayers billions, and improve the quality of life and economic vitality of our community for many years to come.”
Two new HOT lanes in each direction will add much needed capacity to the American Legion Bridge, I-270, and the Maryland Beltway. Alternative 9 will reduce long-term congestion and delays for both free and HOT lane users, incentivize more carpooling, and dramatically increase the reliability of regional express bus service. Furthermore, this will create a seamless regional express lane network between Virginia and Maryland.
HOT Lanes are different from regular express toll lanes because they allow vehicles with 3 or more people – including transit vehicles – to use them for free. As a result, they move more people than general purpose lanes, remain uncongested, and greatly reduce vehicle emissions. Since opening in 2013, Virginia’s 495 express lanes have spurred more than a 550% increase in carpooling on I-495.
MDOT SHA will now go before partner agencies to seek their support before Alternative 9 is brought forward into the final environmental impact statement.
Sign the Alliance’s Petition TODAY to let key MD decision makers know you support moving forward with Alternative 9 to fix the American Legion Bridge, I-270, and the Maryland Beltway.