BRADENTON, Fla. - Virginia is working on a plan to reduce severe congestion on Interstate 66 that could cost as much as $3 billion.
The project will cover 25 miles leading up to the Capital Beltway and includes adding tolled express lanes, rapid bus service, and a park-and-ride network, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced July 17.
"Interstate 66 is broken. Commuters are stuck in traffic, limited in the travel choices they can make and unable to predict how long their trip will take on any given day," McAuliffe said. "Giving Virginians more choices and a better, safer travel experience on I-66 is one of my top priorities."
The Virginia Department of Transportation said it has worked with the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships, and Fairfax and Prince William counties devising a plan to reduce congestion on I-66 by increasing capacity and giving travelers more choices.
The agencies are now beginning a 17-month period to conduct environmental studies and hold community involvement meetings, according to Virginia Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne.
"By the end of 2016 our plan is to complete environmental work, identify funding sources, receive federal approval, and move forward on a plan to turn I-66 into the efficient, multi-modal corridor that Virginia's economy needs," Layne said.
The full scope of improvements, which will be refined over the coming months, is estimated to cost between $2 and $3 billion. State officials said a preliminary analysis shows the project is a good candidate for a low-interest loan from TIFIA, the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program.
A toll study is under way now for two express lanes. Tolls would be congestion-based. Carpools of three or more persons and buses will ride free. Motorists will have the choice of driving in three free lanes.
The state expects to use a public-private partnership to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the project.
A request for qualifications for firms interested in the P3 will be released later this year with short listed teams to be announced in mid-2015. A request for proposals would be released in late 2015. Construction is projected to begin by 2017.
