Governor McAuliffe Breaks Ground on I-395 Express Lanes Extension
August 9, 2017
RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe today joined the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and its private partner and operator of the I-95 Express Lanes, Transurban, to break ground on the start of construction of an eight-mile extension of the I-395 Express Lanes from Turkeycock Run near Edsall Road in Alexandria to the Washington, D.C. border. The project provides more options for faster and more reliable travel in one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the country and expands the region’s network of express lanes. The project includes a long-term investment in transit for the corridor, through a yearly payment of $15 million (to be escalated annually) that will be paid by Transurban to the Commonwealth. This annual transit payment will support transit and multimodal initiatives benefitting the corridor.
“Anyone who travels on I-395 and I-95 today can attest that this is one of the most congested corridors in the country,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Today’s groundbreaking is the first project of the Commonwealth’s larger Atlantic Gateway Initiative which aims to unlock the I-95 Corridor. The Atlantic Gateway Initiative and the I-395 project demonstrate how we can work
with our public and private partners to improve the quality of life for Virginians and our visitors – and keep our new Virginia economy growing.”
Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne added, “Under Governor McAuliffe’s leadership, today’s milestone is one more step toward expanding the express lanes network in Northern Virginia, and providing travelers with much-needed travel choices to reach their destinations faster. The key benefit continues to be options, and we are ready to focus on delivering this new choice on 395.”
The I-395 Express Lanes project provides specific benefits for the thousands of commuters who work at or near the Pentagon, as well as the many carpoolers or commuter bus users transferring at the Pentagon to continue to their destination. By reconstructing the Pentagon’s South Parking area and adding new bus lanes and HOV commuter and “slug” lanes to improve traffic flow and safety for buses and carpools, the project’s benefits extend well beyond the express lanes.
Other key project features include adding a fourth regular lane on I-395 South between the Duke Street and Edsall Road Interchanges, to help relieve the congestion which occurs when I-395 shrinks from four to three lanes in this area. Additionally, the project includes rehabilitating several I-395 bridges, and building new sound walls to protect neighboring communities.
The project is anticipated to cost approximately $500 million, with a combination of private and public funds. The project is one element of the Commonwealth’s Atlantic Gateway Program, a series of major improvements to the I-95/I-395 corridor.
“We are pleased to partner with Virginia to deliver a critical missing link that will connect Express Lanes customers to new destinations along I-395 and Washington D.C.,” said Jennifer Aument, Group General Manager, North America, Transurban. “Crews will begin work right away on improvements that are going to help drivers on I-395 get home faster, while also generating funds to support new transit options. As construction begins, we encourage all travelers to stay alert to changing conditions, avoid distractions and keep an eye out for workers on the road.”
Plans to extend the Express Lanes began in November 2015 with a Framework Agreement under the 95 Express Lanes Comprehensive Agreement between VDOT and Transurban. In February 2017, after meeting specific project-delivery and financial criteria, the Commonwealth approved Transurban’s proposal to finance, design, build, operate and maintain the 395 Express Lanes extension.
AECOM Engineering Company and Lane Construction are under contract to Transurban to design and build the extended 395 Express Lanes. The express lanes are scheduled to open in fall 2019 and the other elements of the project are expected to be completed by summer 2020.
Construction of the expanded express lanes will occur largely within VDOT’s right-of-way; however, some work such as sound wall construction may require crews to access right-of-way and areas adjacent to the project corridor. Preliminary work such as geotechnical investigations and surveying began last March.
More information about the project is available at: 395expresslanes.com and virginiadot.org/395express
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Express Lanes Community Grant Program Recipients Announced
February 6, 2018
Since 2008, Transurban has been active in the local community through the Express Lanes Community Grant Program. To date, more than $750,000 has been awarded to organizations in Northern Virginia. Transurban is proud to announce the recipients of the Express Lanes Grant Program and the 395 Express Lanes Grant Program for the fall 2017 quarter.
|
395 Express Lanes grant recipient |
Grant purpose |
Location of organization |
|
Good Shepherd Housing & Family Services |
Homeless shelter |
Arlington |
|
Running Brooke Move2Learn Four Mile Run Community Playground |
Community Playground |
Alexandria |
|
Mount Eagle Elementary Health Community Expedition and Project Based Learning plan |
Student health program |
Alexandria |
|
ACT for Alexandria - Light It Up! Fund |
Lights for Basketball and Tennis Courts |
Alexandria |
|
Express Lanes grant recipient |
Grant purpose |
Location of organization |
|
Assistance League of Northern Virginia |
Weekend food for kids program |
Herndon |
|
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington |
Transportation and employment services for refugee program |
Arlington |
|
Woodbridge Women's Club |
Home Life Program, food and clothes for homeless |
Prince William County |
The Express Lanes Grant Programs support organizations that undertake projects that sustain, enhance and protect the local community. As a long-term partner to Northern Virginia, Transurban cares about the environment, safety and wellbeing of the communities in which we operate. We strive to be good neighbors in the region and are committed to giving back to our community.
Recent survey find nine in 10 Washington, D.C., Area Drivers Use Cellphone While Behind the Wheel
May 10, 2018
WASHINGTON, May 10, 2018 — A survey of more than 1,000 Washington, D.C., area drivers who travel the Interstate 395 corridor shows that motorists self-‐report engaging in a number of distractions while behind the wheel. Following the survey findings, Transurban, operator of the 495 and 95 Express Lanes, and the Virginia Department of Transportation announced today the launch of a 2018 “Orange Cones. No Phones.” campaign to reduce distracted driving within the 395 Express Lanes work zone.
“We focus on safety on the Express Lanes and in the 395 Express Lanes work zone every day,” said Jennifer Aument, president, North America, Transurban. “We need the help of drivers to create a safer work zone to ensure on-‐road construction crews and other travelers are getting where they need to go safely.”
The top three cellphone distractions reported among D.C. area motorists were using a phone to talk, checking GPS or travel planning, and reading a text message. Despite growing research that finds holding a conversation on a cellphone is still dangerously distracting*, more than half of area drivers report feeling unconcerned about using their phones to talk while behind the wheel. The “Orange Cones. No Phones.” campaign aims to improve safety by reducing distracted driving within the 395 Express Lanes work zone.
“In 2017, distracted driving accounted for almost 25 percent of traffic fatalities,” said Shannon Valentine, Virginia Secretary of Transportation. “In work zones alone, VDOT recorded 2,666 crashes resulting in 1,329 injuries and 12 fatalities. The lives lost were completely preventable. We must continue to engage the public about the dangers of distracted driving. The ‘Orange Cones. No Phones.’ campaign is an important component to help deliver safety on our roads and reduce incidents.”
The survey** conducted in March 2018 finds:
- Nine out of 10 drivers say they have used a cellphone while driving.
- One in five drivers who have had an accident or near accident claim it was due to cellphone use.
- Nearly three out of four drivers say they keep their phone close when driving, and one in six have it in their hand.
- Fifty-‐four percent of drivers admit to using a cellphone at least occasionally while driving.
- One-‐third of drivers in the survey said the last time they used their phone while driving was “today.”
- One-‐third of drivers feel “it’s OK” to use a cellphone while stopped at a red light, a stop sign or in traffic.
- Compared to a similar survey of area drivers in 2014***, hands-‐free talking while driving increased by 14 percent, with 53 percent of drivers in March 2018 now admitting to doing it.
- One in four people admit that using a cellphone for activities other than conversations while driving is “frightening.”
- Seven out of 10 drivers say they stop cellphone use while driving after seeing a sign advising them to do so.
- Seeing a police officer causes 78 percent of drivers to stop cellphone use while on the roads.
“As the first responders to many of these crashes, we understand the serious consequences of distracted driving,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police superintendent. “Safety is our number one concern, and we are pleased to support this program to educate and increase awareness with drivers across the region to help cut down on distracted driving.”
“With so many drivers on the roads around the Washington area admitting they are distracted while driving, there is a huge safety concern for everyone on the roads,” said John Townsend, spokesperson for AAA Mid-‐Atlantic. “Holding a conversation is still a distraction, and our hope is that this program will help drivers become more aware of the dangers of distracted driving, especially around work zones on our highways, and take active steps to make better choices.”
Checking a cellphone or sending a text using voice commands at seemingly safe moments such as when there is a lull in traffic or the car is stopped at an intersection also has been found to be dangerous behavior. According to a Study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, these types of potentially unsafe mental distractions can affect motorists’ attention for as long as 27 seconds, which is equivalent to traveling the length of nearly three football fields at a speed of 25 miles per hour.
As part of the “Orange Cones. No Phones.” campaign, the partners are implementing a number of tactics supported by the study’s findings, industry data and best practices to improve safety for all drivers:
- “Orange Cones. No Phones.” signs will be visible throughout the 395 Express Lanes construction corridor.
- The Virginia State Police presence will be increased in the 395 corridor.
- Advertisements will remind drivers to travel safely and not to drive while distracted.
- Press throughout the region will be engaged to help increase awareness with drivers around this important safety message.
The 395 Express Lanes are scheduled to open in fall 2019. The Lanes will extend the 95 Express Lanes eight miles north to the D.C. line and help get people moving in the I-‐395 corridor. The Lanes will increase capacity by adding another HOV lane, creating three reversible lanes on I-‐395. As part of this project, Transurban will provide $15 million in transit funding per year to enable multimodal solutions in the corridor.
* https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/03/07/cell-‐phones-‐and-‐talking-‐passengers-‐both-‐lead-‐distracted-‐driving-‐12663
** The online survey of 1,003 Washington, D.C., area drivers who travel I-‐395 at least monthly was conducted by international market research firm YouGov between March 21 and March 28, 2018.
*** Online survey of 1,023 frequent I-‐95 drivers who live in Northern Virginia.
About the Express Lanes
The 495 and 95 Express Lanes operate on I-‐495 and I-‐95, providing drivers with faster and more predictable travel options in Northern Virginia. Together, the 495 and 95 Express Lanes create a region-‐wide network of free-‐flowing lanes for over 40 miles from the Dulles Toll Road to Stafford County. Delivered through a public-‐private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban, the Express Lanes give drivers reliable travel choices on two of Northern Virginia’s most congested roadways. For more information, please
visit ExpressLanes.com.
About Transurban
For over twenty years, Transurban has improved the quality of life for customers by providing innovative solutions for their transportation needs. Transurban is a pioneer of the public-‐private partnership (P3) managed lanes concept in the United States. The North American business was among the first to implement major transportation infrastructures in the Virginia region. Our Express Lanes network features industry-‐leading tolling and traffic management systems on more than 40 miles of managed lanes across the 495 and 95 Express Lanes. Transurban was one of the first to use a number of innovative financing and technology strategies in the development of major toll road projects.
Media contacts:
Mike McGurk, Transurban
571-‐421-‐5364, mmcgurk@transurban.com
Transurban and VTTI Partner to Make Roadways Safer for Motorcycle Riders
August 7, 2018
Transurban and VTTI Partner to Make Roadways Safer for Motorcycle Riders
Vendors to submit technologies for a chance to undergo real-world testing
Transurban has invested $400,000 in a partnership with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) to launch the Motorcycle Technology Evaluation Challenge (MotoTEC). Motorcyclist fatalities nationwide increased five percent from 2015 to 2016, accounting for 14 percent of all traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, riders are often overlooked in the discussion about advanced motorcycle technology. MotoTec seeks to implement rider-centric research to identify and advance potential new technologies to address the safety and usability needs of riders on the road and around construction work zones.
“VTTI created our motorcycle research group to direct research attention to the specific needs of motorcyclists. Transurban shares this goal,” said Shane McLaughlin, Motorcycle Research Group Leader. “We’ve designed MotoTEC to focus on the needs of riders, to reveal promising safety and rider support solutions, and to provide system developers with design review and robust testing. There is great opportunity here to reduce the number of crashes on our roadways. We can’t wait to get started.”
Technology vendors with market or near-market ready motorcycle technologies are invited to submit their innovations and products free of cost to a steering committee comprised of representatives across the motorcycle and transportation industries. The steering committee will review these proposals and select a final technology to undergo testing. VTTI will also work alongside the selected vendor to evaluate the product’s ability to create a better and safer riding experience for motorcyclists.
“The risk of injury to motorcycle riders increases in work zones, especially as our nation’s highways become more congested,” said Jennifer Aument, President of Transurban North America. Research shows that motorcyclists account for 10 percent of all work zone fatalities. “At Transurban, we believe investing in innovation and partnering with research leaders like VTTI is instrumental in delivering the safest, most advanced roadways – and that can start on Transurban’s Express Lanes network here in Virginia.”
VTTI and Transurban have a history of accelerating transportation innovation, technology testing, and development in Virginia. In 2015, the two organizations in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Transportation Research Council, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, and HERE, launched the Virginia Automated Corridors test bed in Northern Virginia. Transurban also recently announced the launch of pilot technology projects in partnership with two startups identified through its Smart Highways Challenge to improve traffic management and forecasting on its 40-mile, dynamically tolled road network.MotoTEC will be unveiled during a private ceremony on August 7 in Arlington, Va. with officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation, Arlington County, Virginia Tech, as well as industry representatives.
To participate in MotoTEC as a vendor or steering committee member, please visit https://www.motorcycle.vtti.vt.edu/mototec.html
###
About Transurban
Transurban is a global leader in toll road redevelopment, financing, delivery, operations and technology with a network encompassing more than 900 miles of all-electronic toll roads, tunnels and bridges across North America and Australia. At the heart of the company’s business strategy is the desire to be a partner of choice for government clients and to be an organization that meets the needs of its customers. Transurban has built a track record of partnering with governments to successfully deliver key infrastructure and is recognized for developing smarter, safer and more sustainable solutions that meet the long-term transportation needs of growing cities. Transurban’s growing road networks support millions of drivers — its two U.S. roads make up more than 40 miles of Express Lanes in the Washington, D.C. area, one of the nation’s most congested markets. The Express Lanes are dynamically tolled lanes that operate on I-495 and I-95 in Northern Virginia to provide customers with faster and more predictable travel options.
About Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducts research to save lives, time, and money and protect the environment. As one of seven premier research institutes created by Virginia Tech to answer national challenges, VTTI is continually advancing transportation through innovation and has impacted public policy on national and international levels. In 2007, VTTI founded the Motorcycle Research Group with the objective of applying VTTI’s multidisciplinary research capabilities to real-world motorcycle riding. With the help of study participants and customers in the public and private sectors, the group has collected hundreds of thousands of real-world miles in approximately half of the United States.
Jones Branch Connector Partially Opening to Traffic Dec. 15
December 6, 2018
TYSONS – An important new connection for drivers in Tysons will partially open to traffic Saturday, Dec. 15, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The Jones Branch Connector will open one lane of traffic in each direction while construction on the project continues. It will provide a new connection to Route 123 and provide an alternate route across I-495, linking the Tysons East and Central area.
The half-mile project includes new roadway from the interchange of the 495 Express Lanes and Jones Branch Drive to Route 123. The Connector will provide drivers with direct access to Route 123 and the northbound and southbound 495 Express Lanes. New dynamic message signs along Route 123 and Scotts Crossing Road will display toll prices for the 495 Express Lanes.
The exit name for Jones Branch Drive displayed on Express Lanes signage today will be renamed from “JONES BR” to “JB/RT123” on Dec. 15 to reflect the new access.
When fully completed as scheduled in fall 2019, project features will include:
- Two travel lanes and on-street bike lanes in each direction
- Three bridges over the 495 Express Lanes and I-495 general purpose lanes
- 8- to 12-foot-wide lighted sidewalks, landscaping and other streetscape amenities
- A wide, raised median to accommodate future transit
By providing an alternate route across the Capital Beltway and linking the Tysons East and Central areas, the Connector is expected to relieve traffic along Route 123, at the I-495 interchange, and at other congested intersections. The road is expected to carry more than 32,000 vehicles per day by 2040.
The $58 million project is being completed through a combination of federal, state and county funds. Fairfax County led design and development, while VDOT is administering construction.
Follow VDOT Northern Virginia and the 495 and 95 Express Lanes on Twitter: @vadotnova and @vaexpresslanes.
END
Thanksgiving travel tips
November 15, 2018
Thanksgiving travel tips
Drivers can save time and take advantage of lower tolls on the 95 Express Lanes by avoiding the busiest travel times
The express version
- To save time and take advantage of lower tolls, the Express Lanes team encourages drivers to use the 95 Express Lanes on:
- Tuesday, November 20, before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 21, before 1:30 p.m. or after 5:30 p.m.
- Drivers could save as much as one hour in travel time by taking the 95 Express Lanes next week.
- Last Thanksgiving, drivers who used the 95 Express Lanes saved an average of 27 minutes. Those who traveled during less busy hours also saved as much as 50 percent off their tolls.
Tysons, Va. – Before drivers hit the road this Thanksgiving, the Express Lanes team recommends planning ahead to avoid traffic and delays.
Traffic on I-95 is expected to surge on Tuesday, November 20 and Wednesday, November 21. If last year is any indication, drivers could save as much as one hour in travel time by taking the 95 Express Lanes next week.
What to expect and when to travel
In 2017, more than 228,000 trips were taken on the 95 Express Lanes between Tuesday, November 21 and Sunday, November 26. Drivers who took the Lanes saved an average of 27 minutes, with some saving more than one hourcompared to those who took the regular lanes. In fact, drivers who avoided the busiest travel periods also saved as much as 50 percent off their tolls.
This year:
- Traffic will likely be heaviest on Tuesday, November 20 and Wednesday, November 21. For drivers going south, the best times to travel include:
- Tuesday, November 20: Before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 21:Before 1:30 p.m. or after 5:30 p.m.
- Toll prices may be higher than normal during busy travel times, so it pays to plan ahead. Drivers can check real-time toll pricing and live traffic updates by heading to ExpressLanes.comor downloading the free Express Lanes mobile app (Apple App Store® or the Google Play Store®).
- To help the region with the changing holiday travel patterns, the 95 Express Lanes reversal schedule will be adjusted:
- Tuesday, November 20: Southbound opens around noon.
- Wednesday, November 21: Southbound opens around noon.
- Thursday, November 22: Northbound opens around 2 a.m. and remains all day.
How to stay updated
Once drivers are on the road, pricing and traffic updates will be available on overhead signs. Updates will also be available onlinevia Twitter(@VAExpressLanes).
As a reminder: An E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex is required to use the 95 and 495 Express Lanes. If out-of-town visitors accidently travel on the Lanes without an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex, they can head to ExpressLanes.com/missed-a-toll or contact the customer service center at 1-855-497-9777.
About the Express Lanes operated by Transurban
The 95 and 495 Express Lanes provide drivers in Northern Virginia with faster and more predictable travel options. The Express Lanes stretch more than 40 miles from north of the Dulles Toll Road to Stafford County. Thanks to a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban, the Express Lanes give drivers reliable travel choices on two of northern Virginia’s most congested roadways. For more information, please visit ExpressLanes.com.
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Sound wall voting results
June 7, 2018
The final Sound Wall Noise Abatement Decision Report (NADR) for the 395 Express Lanes project has been approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. Below you will find portions of the report describing the outcome of each vote, organized by individual sound wall. This report includes the raw total of votes received for each barrier, the weighted total of votes received for each barrier, and a map depicting the locations and preference of all votes received in each community.
If you have any questions about the voting outcome or about the 395 Express Lanes Project, please reach out to Geoff Vetter at Geoffrey.Vetter@aecom.com or Brent McKenzie, at BMcKenzie@transurban.com or 571-326-5609.
Sound Walls Along SB I-395
Duke Street to Quantrell Avenue
Seminary Road to King Street
30th Street to Abingdon Street
Randolph Street to Shirlington Circle
Glebe Road to 13th Road
13th Road to Washington Boulevard
Sound Walls Along NB I-395
Sanger Avenue to Seminary Road
Braddock Road to King Street
King Street to Quaker Lane
Quaker Lane to Glebe Road
Glebe Road to VA-27
Sound wall information
October 12, 2017
Review the FAQs below to learn more about sound walls and the voting process. If you have questions or would like to schedule a briefing from project officials at your upcoming community association meeting, please contact the team members listed at the bottom of this page.
About sound walls
What is a sound wall?
A sound wall is a solid barrier between the highway and the homes along the highway that is designed to reduce traffic noise with a maximum height of 30 feet.
How are the potential locations for sound walls selected?
The potential locations that are selected for a sound wall are locations at which the noise level has exceeded 67 decibels or has increased by 10 decibels or more as a result of a road project
Who pays for sound walls?
Sound walls for the 395 Express Lanes Project will be funded by the project concessionaire.Voting on Sound Walls
I am a resident of one of the locations that have been selected as a potential location for a sound wall. Will I have a say on whether the sound wall is constructed?
If you are determined to be a “benefit receptor unit owner and/or resident” (in other words, you would benefit from the sound wall), you will be asked to vote on the sound wall. Voting will begin in the fall of 2017 after VDOT has reviewed the Draft Noise Abatement Decision Report and the preliminary sound wall designs are available. The results of the vote will be incorporated into the final sound wall plans, which will be available in the winter of 2018.
Who determines who is a “benefit receptor”?
VDOT engineers use computer modeling to determine the benefit receptors. The modeling is based on factors such loudest hour of the day, topography, distance from the road to residences, and the sound that is produced by difference types of vehicles. Benefited receptors are receptors shown in the noise study to have a predicted noise reduction of 5 decibels or more from the proposed sound walls.
Do non-resident property owners get to vote, too? Is their vote weighted the same as homeowners?
Non-resident property owners who are determined to be benefit receptors will be eligible to vote. Their votes will be given a weight of 3. As a comparison, the votes of homeowners who are also residents will be given a weight of 5.
Do renters get to vote, too? Is their vote weighted the same as homeowners?
Renters who are determined to be benefit receptors will be eligible to vote. Their votes will be given a weight of 2. As a comparison, the votes of homeowners who are also residents will be given a weight of 5.
I live in a high-rise apartment building. How does the voting work for residents of an apartment building?
Residents in high-rise apartments may not be considered benefited receptors. The maximum height of a sound wall is 30 feet. Residences that are higher than the final “top” elevation of the sound wall are not considered to be benefitted from the noise wall. Residences that are below the elevation of the top of the sound wall will be considered benefit receptors and the owner of the multifamily dwelling unit will be granted one vote per benefited unit.
How are ballots issued?
Initial ballots will be sent by certified mail. Once the benefitted residences have been identified, addresses are verified by the Homeowner’s Association or Civic Association (if available) and on the City of Alexandria’s website for real estate properties. If an insufficient number of initial ballots are returned within 21 days, a follow-up ballot will be sent by regular mail. Residents will have 15 days to return the follow-up ballot.
Where can I find information that will help me decide how to vote?
Your ballot will let you know where to find information on sound walls.
How long will I have to respond?
You will have 21 days to respond to the initial ballot, and, if necessary, 15 days to respond to the follow-up ballot, beginning with the day you receive the ballot.
How is the decision made on whether or not to construct the sound walls?
After the votes have been collected, the sound barriers at each location will be analyzed based on the number of votes and the weights of the votes. VDOT will decide whether to construct the sound wall based on results from the voting, the noise study, and other public outreach.
What minimum response is required?
The ballot will have instructions on responding. You may vote either yes or no, or you can simply not vote. Non-responses are not considered to be respondents. At least 50 percent of distributed ballots on the first attempt are required for the result to be counted. The majority of responses on the second attempt will determine the outcome of the vote.
When and how will I be notified of the decision?
VDOT will prepare an addendum to the noise study showing the results of the voting and how VDOT reached a determination on the construction of a sound wall at each location. The addendum must be approved by FHWA, and when that’s done, the addendum will be made available to the public.
Sound wall specifications and aesthetics
What are the dimensions of a sound wall?
The maximum height of a noise wall is 30 feet. Earth mounds are shorter than walls but require more horizontal space.
How can I see what the sound wall will look like?
Sound wall renderings will be made available as requested. Designs will be selected in an effort to create consistency along the corridor.
Sound wall installation and maintenance
What can we expect during the sound barrier installation in our community? Night work? Noise? Dust?
VDOT is concerned with noise generated during the construction phase of its projects. Noise impacts that occur during the construction of the sound wall will be temporary and will end after the construction is complete. VDOT follows its 2007 Road and Bridge Specifications, Section 107.16(b.3) to reduce the impact of construction noise on the surrounding community. VDOT may prohibit work that produces objectionable noise between 10pm and 6am or other house, if governed by local ordinance.
Who do I call with issues during the installation?
The design-build public information officer, Geoff Vetter, should be contacted with any questions or concerns. He can be reached at geoffrey.vetter@aecom.com.
How much vegetation will we lose?
Vegetation will be removed as required to construct the walls. This will be limited as much as possible and is typically approximately a 5-foot buffer on each side of the wall.
Who will maintain the sound walls?
VDOT maintains and repairs sound walls that are built on State rights-of-way.
Questions or concerns should be directed to:
Michelle Holland, VDOT, michelle.holland@vdot.virginia.gov, 703-586-0487
Brent McKenzie, 95 Express Lanes, bmckenzie@transurban.com, 571-326-5609
Geoffrey Vetter, Lane/AECOM Design-Build Team, Geoffrey.Vetter@aecom.com, 815-245-7800
The new Express Lanes brand
November 20, 2018
The new Express Lanes brand is almost here.
The 495 and 95 Express Lanes brand is getting a digital makeover, because we all need a little wardrobe update every once and awhile.
What does this mean for you?
Don’t worry, nothing’s changing about the fast and reliable service on the 495 and 95 Express Lanes.
Mark your calendars and check back next week.
More D.C. area drivers are choosing the Express Lanes. Here’s Why.
September 21, 2018
More D.C. area drivers are choosing the Express Lanes. Here’s why.
The express version
- Drivers agree: The 95 and 495 Express Lanes are a good way to save time and beat traffic.
- The more drivers use the Lanes, the more they tend to like them.
- A majority of drivers who use the Lanes believe there’s a personal and regional benefit.
- To learn more about the State of the Lanes 2018 report and what we're hearing from people in the region, email us at media@expresslanes.com
When it comes to transportation issues, finding consensus among D.C. area drivers isn’t always easy. Yet, according to our State of the Lanes 2018 report, there are several areas where drivers in the region agree:
1. While a majority of drivers say traffic is a serious problem, most say they use the 95 and 495 Express Lanes to get where they’re going faster.
Of the 1,732 drivers we surveyed for the report, 58% consider traffic a serious problem. That ranks it higher on the list of issues facing the region than housing costs (47%), costs of living (47%) and the costs of healthcare (41%).
At the same time, a majority of drivers (52%) now say they use the 95 and 495 Express Lanes – up from last year. Of that total, nearly three in ten say they use the Lanes at least once a month.
2. Three in four drivers who use the Express Lanes say it’s to save time.
Whether they’re headed to work, running errands or embarking on the next family road trip, Express Lanes drivers see time-savings as a major value-add. Not only are they busy people; they recognize that less time behind the wheel means more time for the activities and the people they love.
As a group, frequent toll payers are more likely to rush home to children under the age of 18 at the end of the day. A majority are under the age of 45 and rely on convenience services such as meal-prep or grocery delivery to get through their busy week. Amazon boxes are regularly found on their doorstep and most don’t mind paying a fee for convenience services or tolls. In fact, some are landing jobs at companies that fund or reimburse their tolls for business travel and daily commuting.
3. Positive impressions of the Express Lanes rise with frequency of use.
Simply put, the more drivers use the Lanes, the more satisfied they are. Nearly nine in ten who use the Lanes frequently say they see a benefit not only to themselves but also to the region.
To learn more about the State of the Lanes 2018 report and what we’re hearing from people in the region, email us at media@expresslanes.com.
If you’re an Express Lanes driver, tell us why you #LovetheLanes on Facebook or Twitter. If you’re not, find out how to add a little extra time to your day.