Governor Considers Express Lanes on I-66

Governor Bob McDonnell is looking to the private sector to share ideas about to how ease congestion and improve the commuter experience on the 25-mile section of I-66 from U.S. Route 15 in Prince William County to I-495.

Improvements that the Governor is considering include adding tolled express lanes similar to the I-495 Express Lanes.

"I-66 improvements begin with opening the gates to private sector ideas on how the Commonwealth can ease congestion on this vital transportation link in one of the most heavily-traveled areas of the state and country," said Governor McDonnell. "The goal is to make I-66 an efficient and dynamic transportation facility so that motorists and commuters save time and money, while cutting down on the stress and cost of waiting in traffic."

The Office of Transportation Public Private Partnerships, in coordination with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, issued a "Request for Information" to solicit input on "innovative approaches to developing and financing transportation improvements."

"Information from the RFI responses will help the Commonwealth to further develop the project, which may result in a formal procurement of a contract, possibly through the Public Private Transportation Act," McDonnell's office said in a press release.

Currently, I-66 corridor improvements are in the environmental review process.

Following public hearings last spring, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) are considering the following measures:

• Widening I-66 by building additional general purpose lanes that would not be tolled
• Converting the existing high occupancy vehicle lane into either one or two lanes, in each direction, that would be free to carpoolers, buses and emergency vehicles.
• Locating Bus Rapid Transit in the median of I-66 extending west from Vienna to Haymarket

RFI responses are due by November 25, 2013.