Virginia Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne announced a plan Thursday to ease congestion on the often congested Interstate 66; among the proposed improvements are tolls in HOV lanes from I-495 to U.S. Route 29 in Rosslyn.
Tolling during peak periods and the first group of multimodal improvements are expected to begin in 2017. Layne says tolling on this section of I-66 in both directions during the morning and evening commutes rush would deliver "free-flowing and more reliable travel" for residents. Cars with three or more passengers would be able to travel the lanes for free during the designated peak periods. The lanes would remain free to all traffic during off-peak periods. “Drivers traveling on I-66 inside the Beltway face serious delays in both directions ranging from 2 to 5 miles each day,” said Layne. “Bus service and other transit options face connectivity challenges and are greatly impacted by this congestion and unreliability. Improving these conditions is going to take a transformation of the entire I-66 corridor, and it’s going to take more than one solution. Governor McAuliffe is committed to implementing the right solutions to improve this vital transportation corridor.” Layne and project leaders feel the conversion of HOV lanes into tolled express lanes during peak periods, would move traffic more efficiently providing reliable trips for carpoolers, buses, and toll-paying drivers. "Critical multimodal improvements will also be implemented within the I-66 corridor or on surrounding roadways," a Virginia Department of Transportation spokesperson said. "VDOT would manage the tolling."
Virginia Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne announced a plan Thursday to ease congestion on the often congested Interstate 66; among the proposed improvements are tolls in HOV lanes from I-495 to U.S. Route 29 in Rosslyn. 
