August 7, 2012
PRINCE WILLIAM - Surrounded by elected officials, transportation engineers, and dignitaries, Gov. Bob McDonnell held a groundbreaking ceremony today to begin construction of the Interstate 95 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia.
The project will build 29 miles of express lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Edsall Road in Fairfax County, and will connect the I-95 Express Lanes to the I-495 Express Lanes currently under construction to provide a seamless network of new lanes to reduce congestion, encourage carpooling, and providing public transportation options never before available.
"For the first time, commuters will have transportation choices they never had before when traveling the I-95 corridor, said Gov. McDonnell. "This innovative public-private partnership will result in express lanes for carpoolers, sluggers and buses, while at the same time providing new transportation choices for all motorists to reach their destinations faster."
Gov. McDonnell was joined by Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton, Virginia Congressmen Rob Wittman and Gerry Connolly, House of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell, the chairs of the Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford counties boards of supervisors, and numerous other state and local officials.
When completed, there will be two new High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-95, extending nine miles from Dumfries to Garrisonville Road. North of Dumfries, existing I-95 HOV lanes will be improved for six miles from Route 234 to Prince William County Parkway.
North of the parkway, I-95 HOV lanes will be expanded from two to three lanes for 14 miles to Edsall Road as well as connect to the soon-to-be-completed 495 Express Lanes. The project also includes expanding and adding commuter parking lots.
The project is expected to open to traffic in early 2015.
Vehicles with three or more people will be able to ride the express lanes for free. Vehicles with one to two people can ride the express lanes for a variable toll or travel in the general purpose lanes for free. Tolls will be electronically collected using E-ZPass, eliminating the need for toll booths.
"I-95 Express Lanes will provide needed added capacity to help reduce traffic congestion," said Connaughton. "The expanded HOV options include first-time HOV access in Stafford County and a direct link to the new Express Lanes on the Capital Beltway and into Tysons Corner. The 495 and I-95 Express Lanes combined will create a region-wide, reliable pathway for carpoolers and buses, connecting major Virginia employment centers and military sites."
The project is being delivered by a public-private partnership between VDOT and 95 Express Lanes LLC (a joint venture between Transurban DRIVe and Fluor Enterprises, Inc.). This allows the commonwealth to leverage private-sector resources to build the nearly $1 billion project.
The private sector is providing $854 million in funding while VDOT's contribution is $71 million. VDOT will maintain ownership of I-95 and oversee 95 Express' activities.
The project will also have significant economic benefits, including:
Construction will contribute $1.54 billion to the state's economy (its gross state product)
New personal earnings of $464 million that will accrue to the benefit of workers residing in Virginia
Direct and indirect spending will support more than 12,600 jobs over the construction period
The benefits will be particularly realized in the communities along I-95, with nearly 2,500 jobs supported in Fairfax County, 2,600 jobs in Prince William County and nearly 900 in Stafford County
"With construction beginning today, VDOT urges motorists to pay extra attention as they are traveling through the I-95 corridor," said VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley. "You will see a lot of construction activity, including traffic shifts, lane closures and tree clearing along the median. VDOT is committed to keeping the public informed of construction activity and impacts, and will do everything it can to keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible during construction. When the project is finished, this region will have a top-notch transportation facility that will ease congestion and advance the use of carpooling, vanpooling and transit."
During construction motorists can expect:
Existing HOV lanes will be narrowed and shifted with construction barriers installed for workers to resurface pavement, install new signage and tolling structures.
HOV lane shoulders will be narrowed with emergency pulloffs located approximately every mile.
Field offices and equipment staging areas will be setup along the 29-mile corridor to support construction.
Nightly HOV lane closures are expected for the next two years.
There will be no closures on I-95/395 general purpose lanes or HOV lanes during rush hour. In general expect 10 to 15 minutes of additional traffic delays through the construction zone during lane closures.
Trees will be cleared from the median to expand the existing roadway south of Dumfries and along the sides of the highway to build new sound walls.
Construction of nine new bridges will get under way, including four flyover ramps adding new and improved access to and from the 95 Express Lanes.
For more information, lane closure details and to sign-up for alerts, visit www.VAmegaprojects.com. Project information is also available at www.95expresslanes.com.
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http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/statewide/2012/gov._mcdonnell_announces_contruction59216.asp
July 31, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) entered into a comprehensive agreement and reached financial close with a group of private-sector companies to build approximately 29 miles of express lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Edsall Road in Fairfax County. Construction will begin on the $925 million project early next month.
"This is a historical day for transportation and the economy in Virginia," said Governor McDonnell. "In partnering with the private sector, VDOT is leveraging nearly $1 billion dollars in congestion relief for the heavily traveled Northern Virginia region. Virginia is taking bold action to move more people with fewer cars by giving them more transportation choices that will save time and money, and improve the environment. The project will also support nearly 8,000 jobs over the construction period and stimulate $2 billion in economic activity."
VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley, in cooperation with the Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships, executed a comprehensive agreement and reached financial close with 95 Express Lanes LLC (a joint venture between Transurban DRIVe and Fluor Enterprises, Inc.). The agreement, signed under the Public-Private Transportation Act, allows VDOT to partner with 95 Express, which will make a substantial investment in the project and share in the financial risk of construction and operations. The agreement sets the framework for a long-term business relationship. Construction is expected to begin in 2012 and be completed by late 2014.
The project will expand and improve the existing HOV lanes from Dumfries to Edsall Road and extend new HOV lanes from Dumfries to Garrisonville Road, resulting in 29 miles of express lanes in which vehicles with three or more people can use for free. Vehicles with fewer than three passengers can choose to pay a toll to use express lanes or they can ride the general purpose lanes for free.
"The 95 Express Lanes combined with the nearly completed 495 Express Lanes will bring a transportation network that manages congestion efficiently, saving time and better connecting commuters with some of Virginia's most important employment centers and military sites," said Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton.
Whirley added, "The project will bring transportation choices to commuters traveling to and from the Northern Virginia region. For the first time, commuters will have HOV access on I-95 from Dumfries to Garrisonville Road. North of Dumfries, the existing HOV lanes will be improved, resulting in better services for existing carpoolers and congestion relief."
Under the comprehensive agreement, VDOT will maintain ownership of the infrastructure and oversee 95 Express' activities. 95 Express will finance, build, operate and maintain the facility for a 76-year concession period. 95 Express will also assume risk of delivering the project on a performance-based, fixed-price, fixed-date contract, protecting users and taxpayers from cost overruns and delays.
"Virginia has again demonstrated its leadership in using innovative public-private partnerships to help deliver major transportation and economic outcomes," said Michael Kulper, president, Transurban North America. "The 95 Express Lanes will link directly to the new 495 Express Lanes to provide travelers throughout the region with faster and more predictable travel."
The key components of construction include:
Financial and tolling highlights:
Park and ride lots:
View Comprehensive Agreement.
http://www.vamegaprojects.com/news/current-alerts/gov-mcdonnell-announces-contract-to-build-95-express-lanes/
December 22, 2014
About Brain Injury Services
For the last 25 years, Brain Injury Services has been dedicated to the long-term care and well-being of survivors of traumatic brain injury. The organization has successfully developed several groundbreaking programs – from pediatric care to supported living assistance – and is committed to serving individuals with brain injuries in Virginia.
"Brain Injury Services plays a significant role in our community. We empower survivors to repair lives, recover possibilities and restore hope," said Karen Brown, Executive Director of Brain Injury Services. "We give hope and long-term help to survivors, building the skills and confidence they need to lead a fulfilling and productive life."
Brain Injury Services has helped thousands of individuals in Northern Virginia – and plans to help many more.
95 Express Lanes Grant Program Support
Brain Injury Services speaker's bureau program features knowledgeable brain injury survivors who are eager to share their experiences with the community. The speakers discuss their challenges, successes and insights with a variety of groups in the Washington, D.C. area.
"We find that there is a compassionate response and a better understanding of the challenges after the presentations," Brown said. "No one can explain, teach or talk about brain injury better than those who have experienced one themselves."
The grant funds provided by Transurban-Fluor were put toward a variety of speaker bureau items including preparing speakers, promoting the program and providing educational materials at presentations. The grant money enabled the organization to professionalize their efforts – which ultimately helps to promote the mission of the program more effectively.
As several speakers were injured in vehicle accidents, Transurban-Fluor also chose to support the organization's speaker's bureau due to their commitment to safety while driving – a main focus for Transurban-Fluor and the Express Lanes project.
More Information
To learn more about Brain Injury Services and ways to get involved, please visit www.braininjurysvcs.org.
December 22, 2014
About Keep Prince William Beautiful
Just last year, Keep Prince William Beautiful volunteers removed more than 87,000 pounds of litter from within Prince William County.
For more than 30 years, Keep Prince William Beautiful has served as the community's resource for litter cleanups. Keep Prince William Beautiful is a non-profit environmental organization that provides pre-cleanup litter education and safety training, trash bags, landfill vouchers, gloves, vests, marketing assistance and giveaways to aid in the efficiency of cleanups.
Keep Prince William Beautiful takes pride in encouraging individuals to take responsibility for improving their community's environment. To effect change in the county, the organization offers programs varying from interactive classroom lessons to hands-on community activities which help educate the community on litter removal, recycling and water quality.
95 Express Lanes Grant Program Support
The 95 Express Lanes team chose to support Keep Prince William Beautiful because its community cleanups benefit not only the 400,000+ residents of Prince William County, but also the surrounding local businesses, government and tourists.
"The 95 Express Lanes project corridor is the gateway to our community, therefore keeping the Prince William area clean impacts everyone who enters and exits our community," said Kiliaen Anderson, Executive Director of Keep Prince William Beautiful. "Keep Prince William Beautiful is very grateful for the funding provided by Transurban-Fluor. Without the support, we would not have been able to provide the necessary supplies for our cleanups."
Trash grabbers, heavy-duty gloves and safety signs were purchased with the funding provided by Transurban-Fluor. The funding helped to ensure the safety of more than 700 volunteers and 40 home owners associations who participated in the spring cleanup, and resulted in the removal of more than 85,615 pounds of litter from within the county.
More Information
To find out more about Keep Prince William Beautiful and ways to get involved, visit www.kpwb.org.
December 22, 2014
On May 11, 2013, local Cub Scouts participated in a volunteer event to landscape an area off I-95 southbound near the Centreport Parkway exit ramp in Stafford County. The Cub Scouts, from Aquia District Pack 213, were joined by Virginia Delegate Mark Dudenhefer, Stafford County Supervisor Cord Sterling and representatives from the 95 Express Lanes project.
The volunteers and elected officials in attendance planted more than 20 trees, provided under the 1,000 Trees in 1,000 Days program. Through the program, Transurban-Fluor is partnering with communities located near the 95 Express Lanes corridor to plant 1,000 trees over the course of the project's construction.
Delegate Mark Dudenhefer and Supervisor Cord Sterling identified the Centreport Parkway area as a good candidate for the 1,000 Trees program.
December 22, 2014
On Saturday, June 15, 2013, local Boy Scouts from Troop 1140 (Springfield) participated in a community volunteer event to landscape an area at Burke Lake Park. The scouts were joined by Virginia Delegate Dave Albo, Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, officials from the Fairfax County Park Authority, residents from the nearby South Run Regency community and representatives from the 95 Express Lanes project.
The officials and volunteers in attendance planted 10 trees, provided under the 95 Express Lanes 1,000 Trees in 1,000 Days program. Through the 1,000 Trees program, Transurban-Fluor is partnering with communities located near the 95 Express Lanes construction corridor and pledging to plant 1,000 trees in 1,000 days.
"South Run is largely a community of heavily-treed lots and common spaces that abuts Burke Lake Park where the dam renovation took place," said Chuck Caposell, Trustee, South Run Regency. "We are grateful for the efforts of Supervisor Herrity who, along with the generosity of Transurban-Fluor, has secured 75 trees for the park including ten located near our community."
Supervisor Herrity identified the Burke Lake Park project site and submitted an application to the 1,000 Trees program.
"This is a win win – the community need perfectly fit the community outreach efforts of Transurban-Fluor. When the Burke Lake dam underwent repairs recently, many trees had to be removed to allow equipment to enter the park," Herrity said. "The trees Transurban-Fluor, the community, and the boy scouts planted will go a long way in keeping Burke Lake Park as one of Fairfax County's most beautiful and prized assets. I want to thank the partners on the 95 Express Lanes project for their commitment to the environment and our community."
December 22, 2014
About Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association
With the constant development of buildings, roads and communities in the Northern Virginia area, it is becoming increasingly important to care for the environment. Roadways and public areas can become overgrown and covered in litter without proper care. Fortunately, there is a group of residents who care for the area in which they live, and work hard to keep their community beautiful. The Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association (WPCCA) was founded by a group of individuals who value the wellbeing of their community and who work together to preserve it.
The WPCCA is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose purpose is to unite Woodbridge communities on issues such as land use, environment, transportation and development.
The beautification committee is the most active committee in the WPCCA. The committee organizes a variety of events and programs that focus on improving the environment in the Prince William area. The programs include cleaning up Neabsco Creek, cleaning up Route 1 and adopting local gardens. Each year, the Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association awards local businesses and residents that do an outstanding job of maintaining attractive and environmentally friendly properties in the Woodbridge area. The annual Beautification Awards are meant to inspire residents and business owners in the area to take pride in and invest in the aesthetic of their community.
95 Express Lanes Grant Support
The WPCCA Beautification Committee helps keep the Woodbridge area clean and unpolluted. The Association provides a venue for community members to engage in the issues of land use, community beautification, environment and development.
In 2008, the founders of the WPCCA came together with the goal of working to develop a plan to improve the Woodbridge community. "Litter pickups, landscaping, gardens and park investments are beneficial to residents that use and enjoy these amenities as well as businesses that operate in the community," said John Karnhak, president of WPCCA. "The litter prevention portion of our overall beautification program started when one of our members witnessed a person littering on the side of the road. Since then it has grown to include a widespread education campaign, with posters in many local stores."
To help cover the costs of the Beautification Committee's expenses, WPCCA applied for a 95 Express Lanes community grant.
The 95 Express Lanes team supported the WPCCA Beautification Committee because of its commitment to the well-being of the community.
"Transurban-Fluor takes pride in the communities we work and live in," said Kevin Ginnerty, Transurban's Director of Project Delivery. "We are pleased to support the Beautification Committee so that the Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association can continue its great work for the community and environment."
More Information
For more information about the Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association, the Beautification Committee and the work they are doing to improve the communities, visit: www.newwoodbridge.org/about-principi/civic-association.html.
To stay informed about the latest updates from WPCCA, please "like" their Facebook Page.
December 22, 2014
As part of our long-term commitment to the communities in which we live, work and operate, Transurban-Fluor started the 1,000 Trees in 1,000 Days program in order to give back to the communities surrounding the I-395/95 corridors – and return some of the greenery, which makes our area so beautiful.
The tree plantings began in Fall 2012, and we are excited to announce that we reached our 1,000 trees commitment, with the last trees planted in November.
Transurban-Fluor partnered with communities located near the Express Lanes construction corridor and provided a total of 1,000 Trees to 17 different organizations and communities – such as partnering with Girl Scout Troop 6115 to plant 22 trees at the Burke United Methodist Church in Burke, Virginia and assist students, teachers and clergy at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and School in planting a ceremonial tree in Triangle, Virginia.
Applications were accepted and trees were awarded throughout the 29-month 95 Express Lanes construction schedule.
December 5, 2014
On November 21, 2014, Transurban-Fluor was recognized by the Fairfax County Park Foundation for their support of Park Authority programs and projects at the 2014 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards ceremony in Fairfax, Virginia.
Transurban-Fluor was awarded the Eakin Philanthropy Award, which recognizes significant financial or in-kind contributions; projects with broad, long term benefits to the community and visionary contributions; all of which create new programs or facilities and provide a new approach to addressing community needs.
Since 2009, the 495 and 95 Express Lanes Community Grants awarded to the Fairfax County Park Foundation have helped support a broad spectrum of agency efforts – such as the Wakefield Run Stream Restoration and improvements to the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail.
To date, the 495 and 95 Express Lanes grants have been awarded to 112 organizations in the Express Lanes corridor through the Community Grant Program. The Express Lanes Community Grant Program supports organizations that sustain, enhance or protect the local environment and communities surrounding the Express Lanes corridor.
We take a sustainable approach to all operations, projects and business practices to create the best outcomes for communities. Our sustainability highlights three focus areas – be good neighbors, use less and think long term. As the operators of the 495 and 95 Express Lanes, we are long term partners in the Northern Virginia region.
For more information on the 495 and 95 Express Lanes Community Grant Programs, please visit: https://www.495expresslanes.com/grant-program and http://95expresslanes.com/grant-program, respectively.
December 1, 2014
Opened November 2012, the 495 Express Lanes have completed two full years of operations and have changed the commute on the Capital Beltway. The 495 Express Lanes continue to provide the region’s travelers with faster, more reliable trips, options for carpools and bus riders, and enhanced incident response.
Download this feature below to see key stats from our first two years of operations.