Plan for I-66 toll money gets green light

ARLINGTON, Va. — Tolls for solo rush-hour drivers on Interstate 66 inside the Beltway are scheduled to start in 2017, and a plan outlining how the toll money can be spent just cleared a big hurdle.

Thursday night, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission approved a 40-year agreement with the Commonwealth.

“This agreement between this organization and the state is what gives us a say in how that money gets spent,” Jay Fisette, Vice Chair of the commission and a member of the Arlington County Board told WTOP.

“Multimodal projects like slugging, and carpools and 8-car trains and commuter buses.”

He voted in favor of the agreement, which next goes to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for its vote.

Delegate Jim LeMunyon, who represents the 67th District, was one of the commissioners who voted against the agreement. He did so because he says the toll plan is flawed.

“We really ought to just hit the reset button, and come up with something much more ambitious that actually solves the congestion problem that people want solved, not try to pretend to solve it.”

LeMunyon wants the toll plan scrapped.

“We can do that in the General Assembly.  I plan to do that in January when we meet, and replace it with something much more ambitious,” he said.

Michelle Basch

Michelle Basch is a reporter turned morning anchor at WTOP News.

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