Capital Beltway

Highway Widening

Maryland Toll Road Project Loses Key Operator Amid Lawsuits, Shifting Political Landscape

The loss of toll operator Transurban could be a death knell for the controversial I-495/I-270 Managed Lanes Project in Maryland.

March 12, 2023 - The Washington Post

Highway Widening

Lawsuit Challenges Maryland's Big Highway Widening Plans

A lawsuit has challenged Maryland Governor Larry Hogan's plans, first proposed in 2017 and granted federal approval earlier this year, to widen Interstate 270 and part of the Capital Beltway.

October 27, 2022 - The Washington Post

View east along Maryland State Route 927 (Montrose Road) at Interstate 270 (Washington National Pike) in Potomac, Montgomery Cou

Maryland Beltway Project Tentatively Moves Forward

The state transit authority has granted preliminary approval to the revised plan to expand the Capital Beltway and add new high-occupancy and toll lanes.

June 21, 2021 - DCist

Highway Widening

Maryland's Controversial Highway Widening Proposal Scaled Back

Interstate 270, the Capital Beltway, will no longer by widened as part of the I-495/I-270 Managed Lanes Project.

May 13, 2021 - Bethesda Magazine

Interstate 495

Maryland's Highway Expansion Project Out to Bid

Vocal opposition hasn't slowed the Maryland Department of Transportation's progress of the I-495/I-270 Managed Lanes Project.

January 3, 2021 - Bethesda Magazine

Highway Widening

Key Planning Agency Rejects Maryland Highway Widening Proposal

A plan to widen interstates 495 and 270 failed a critical step on the way to approval, in a decision likely to lead to a lawsuit when the Maryland Department of Transportation settles on a final plan.

October 26, 2020 - Maryland Matters

Highway Widening

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Maryland's Big Highway Widening Project Released

The state of Maryland is moving forward with a highway widening plan that would spend $11 billion in a private-partnership to add toll lanes to two Capital Beltway highways.

July 15, 2020 - DCist

Maryland Highways

Critics: Press Pause on Highway Widening in Maryland Until COVID Impacts Are Clear

Transportation plans justified with pre-coronavirus data are now obsolete, according to a line of argument recently presented to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

May 5, 2020 - Maryland Matters

Maryland Highway Plan Would Destroy Affordable Housing, Displace Low-Income Residents

A local writer compares the plan to expand I-270 and the Capital Beltway to an earlier era of transportation planning.

June 24, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

Construction of I–66 Toll Lanes Outside the Capital Beltway Begins this Weekend

Widening of Interstate 66 for 22.5 miles in Northern Virginia will accommodate two toll lanes in each direction, accessible to trucks. The $3.7 billion project, to be built by public-private partnership at no cost to the state, will open in 2022.

April 5, 2018 - WTOP

Virginia Freeway

Popularity of Express Lanes Spreads Beyond Virginia

Dan Vock of Governing takes a broad look at congestion pricing, beginning with the success of Virginia's 66 Express Lanes, the ones where tolls initially topped $40. Notwithstanding complaints, managed lanes are spreading, but challenges remain.

April 3, 2018 - Governing

Maryland Big Toll Lanes Project Moving Forward

Judging by the private-sector interest in a plan to expand Interstate 270 and the Capital Beltway in Maryland, the state won't have any trouble finding willing partners.

January 9, 2018 - Bethesda Magazine

Toll Road

Dynamic Tolling Done Right—VDOT Shows the Way

Virginia's 66 Express Lanes feature uncapped tolls that change every six minutes with the level of congestion, with most revenue benefiting transit. Carpools travel free, but solo-drivers in electric vehicles pay like others.

January 3, 2018 - Business Insider

I-66 High Occupancy Toll Lanes Open in Northern Virginia in December

The lanes are in use now, operating as High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes during peak hours. Come December, solo-occupant vehicles will be able to use the converted lanes, providing they have E-ZPass transponders. However, there are some losers.

October 10, 2017 - The Washington Post

Maryland's $9 Billion Project Would Be the Nation's Largest P3 for Highways

Gov. Larry Hogan (R-Md.) announced last week plans for the largest highway contract awarded to a public-private partnership: adding four express toll lanes to the Capital Beltway and I-270. A third highway widening will be completed internally.

September 29, 2017 - Planetizen

Virginia's New 395 Express Lanes Guaranteed to Fund Public Transit

The $500 million, eight-mile extension, mostly paid by private funds and express lane tolls, broke ground August 9. Transurban, the private company in the public-private partnership, will pay $15 million annually for public transit improvements.

August 14, 2017 - Planetizen

Better Management, Not Lane Additions, Will Increase Capacity on Virginia's I-66

New express lanes on I-66 inside the Capital Beltway on I-66 will be significant for two reasons. First, no lanes will be added. HOV lanes will be converted to HOT lanes. Second, revenue will go to options to get drivers out of cars, such as transit

December 18, 2015 - The Wahington Post

HOT Lanes Do Not a Toll Road Make

A look back at a controversy from this month's Virginia State Senate election, which produced some seriously misleading rhetoric about "toll roads" (i.e., the proposal was for HOT lanes, not a toll road).

November 28, 2015 - Vox

High-Occupancy Toll Lanes on the Table for I-66 Inside the Beltway

The Virginia Department of Transportation is underway with public outreach on a proposed project to add HOT lanes on 1-66 inside the Beltway.

June 8, 2015 - The Washington Post

Failing Infrastructure Strikes the Beltway

Driving under a structurally deficient bridge took on a whole new meaning, even for those with the Beltway, when concrete fell on a passing vehicle under a bridge awaiting repair in Prince George's County, Md. on Feb. 10. The driver was OK.

February 15, 2015 - The Washington Post

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