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| Update: |
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is
conducting a study to widen the Capitol Beltway (I-495) in two stages.
The first phase of the study (to be completed by 2010) proposes to add
two HOV lanes to the current 8-lanes. The second stage (to be completed
by 2020) proposes to add two additional lanes and
modifies all interchanges in Virginia. Virginia's 2020 Transportation
Plan's call for a 12-lane Beltway is totally out of synch with Maryland's
plan for its portion of the Beltway. Virginia favors more vehicle lanes
and treats transit as an unwanted distant cousin. Read more about the
Virginia/Maryland beltway plan discrepancies.
Because of the large number
of comments VDOT received regarding the physical impacts associated with
the proposed improvements, the department has decided to evaluate modifications
that would reduce the size of the project, particularly at interchanges.
VDOT will also evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of High Occupancy
Toll (HOT) lanes. Results of these additional studies will be presented
at a series of public workshops scheduled to take place during Spring
2004.
Although the project is being promoted by VDOT as a solution to traffic, studies have shown that widening the Beltway to 12 lanes will not reduce congestion. In fact, previous widenings have done nothing to relieve traffic on the roadway and have caused induced traffic.
Furthermore, a 12-lane Beltway will disrupt existing neighborhoods,
destroy homes, cause traffic delays during decades of construction, and fuel a
new round of development. Any new capacity from the road will only offer temporary
decreases in commute times. Several projects are connected to the beltway widening
including the Woodrow
Wilson Bridge, the InterCounty
Connector (ICC),
the Springfield Interchange or Mixing Bowl (at I-395/95 and the Beltway), I-66
widening, interchange upgrades, and the Purple
Line.
More on Beltway Widening:
Solutions
History
Contacts
Related Issues:
InterCounty Connector (ICC)
Wilson
Bridge
Techway
More Information:
Reasons
to Oppose Beltway Expansion
"Beltway Widening Threatens
Fairfax,"(Fairfax Coalition for Smarter Growth)
Delegate
David Albo's Plan for Commuter Rail
VA/MD
Beltway Plan Discrepancies
VDOT's
Capitol Beltway Study
VDOT's
Capitol Beltway Project, Official Plans, Study
