Capitol Beltway History

Probably the most well known beltway in the country, Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, encircles the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The project was completed in 1964, but expansion has occurred several times and projects for the future are currently being studied. The system of roadways had a major impact in the region as it brought a new wave of development to areas of Fairfax, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties that had previously been rural because of their inaccessibility.

Originally 4 to 6 lanes wide (2 to 3 lanes each way), the Beltway was widened to 8 lanes between 1972 and 1992. But traffic continued to increase on the Beltway and, in the 1990s, a major investment study was begun on widening the Beltway to 12 lanes. Around the same time, studies were undertaken for a 12-lane Woodrow Wilson Bridge and for an expanded Springfield Interchange (at the I-95 and I-395 intersection with the Beltway). Both of these projects are well underway and accommodate the expansion of the Beltway.

In 1999, northern Virginia elected officials approved the inclusion of a 12-lane Beltway in the 2020 Transportation Plan. Meanwhile, Virginia Delegate David Albo came up with an innovative plan for constructing a commuter rail system in the Beltway corridor, including a link to rail in Maryland. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) in late 1999 took preliminary steps to launch a feasibility study for a Beltway corridor rail system. Delegate Albo's rail plan and the Beltway expansion progressed independently of one another, but his rail plan never passed.

Public hearings on the Beltway widening were held when the initial draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) was issued and again in April 2002 when the final EIS was released. Each set of hearings attracted approximately 1000 citizens concerned about the impact of a 12-lane beltway on their communities.

Currently there is talk of building a Purple Line, which is rail line that would encompass the Capitol area, but those discussions are overshadowed by enthusiasm from developers and politicians to add additional roads to the Capitol Beltway.

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