About the Project
In conjunction with the I-95/I-395 HOV/Bus/HOT Lanes Project, a recommended
plan has been developed to enhance transit and travel demand management
services (TDM) in the corridor. TDM involves various services/strategies designed
to reduce demand on roadways, including carpooling, vanpooling and
telecommuting.
 
The Department of Rail and Public Transportation managed the study and was
guided by a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of local, state, regional and
federal jurisdictional/agency staff.

The Goals
The study addressed two goals:                
1) Maintain transit and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) ridership.                             
2) Make use of the HOT lane features to attract new transit and HOV riders.

Recommended Transit/TDM Improvements Included:

• TDM initiatives to increase carpooling, vanpooling and slugging
• Modifications to existing routes to serve new markets
• New bus services        
• Fixed guideway/rail

           - Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
           - Enhanced VRE/Amtrak

• Other capital improvements such as:

           - Improvements to transit stations,
           - New/improved Park and Ride lots,
           - In-line transit stations at major activity centers.

HOV/Bus/HOT Lanes Project

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is partnering with Fluor-Transurban in the development of high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane projects for Interstates 95/395 and the Capital Beltway/Interstate 495. The projects are designed to help alleviate congestion.

The I-95/395 project will expand the existing high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-95/395 from two to three lanes and extend two new lanes south to Massaponax.

Two HOV/Bus/HOT lanes will be added in each direction between the Springfield Interchange and just north of the Dulles Toll Road as part of the Capital Beltway/I-495 project.

All of these lanes will become HOV/Bus/HOT lanes – meaning buses and carpools with three or more people can continue to use the lanes for free, while non-HOV motorists can choose to pay a toll and access the lanes as well.

The new I-95/395 lanes will be reversible, meaning traffic operations personnel will use them to move traffic into the region during peak in-bound commute times, and out of the region during out-bound peak periods, like the HOV lanes are used today. The Capital Beltway HOV/Bus/HOT lanes will not be reversible.