MDOT Selects Partner for Express Lanes Project
The Maryland Department of Transportation has selected Accelerate Maryland Partners, led by Transurban (USA), as the preferred partner to build and manage the Maryland HOT Lanes from the American Legion Bridge to the ICC.
“This $3.7 billion private investment is a major victory for our region’s multimodal transportation system and a critical step forward to expanding our HOT Lanes network as envisioned by the DC area’s Transportation Planning Board,” said Jason Stanford, president, Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.
He continued, “Transurban has done an exceptional job in Virginia and its commitment of up to $300 million in transit investments in the first phase of the project clearly goes above and beyond. This project will ensure our region has the transportation infrastructure necessary to serve the additional 1 million jobs and 1.3 million people that are anticipated by 2045.”
After reviewing bids from three excellent teams with strong track records of delivering express lane projects in our area and across the US, MDOT selected the bid that provided the greatest multimodal transportation benefit to our region.
The winning bid will include:
- $300 million in transit investments in Phase 1 South alone (which includes the sections from the American Legion Bridge to the I-270/I-370 interchange)
- Upfront payments that include a $145 million Development Rights Fee, to cover design and planning costs, ensuring zero net cost to Maryland taxpayers
- Additional bike and pedestrian improvements between Virginia and Maryland
- Free travel for HOV-3 and transit vehicles
- Seamless connectivity between Virginia and Maryland
- It will invest over $3 billion, just in Phase 1 South, creating 7,500 new jobs per year in Maryland and the region during construction
“The benefits of HOT Lanes in our region are clear,” added Stanford. “The I-95 Express Lanes move more than twice as many people per lane as the regular lanes during the morning rush hour, and the Virginia Beltway has seen more than a 550% increase in carpooling since the 495 Express Lanes were completed.”
“These lanes move more people more efficiently by incentivizing more carpooling and transit. At the same time, they create a new reliable option for important trips and generating additional funding for transit and other multimodal improvements. There is clearly no better option to strengthen our region’s multimodal transportation network for the long-term.”
Now the pre-development agreement with Transurban will go to the Maryland Board of Public Works (BPW) for approval, with a final Section Agreement going to BPW for approval in 2022.
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