March 3, 2014
November 20, 2013
Santa christened the 495 Express Lanes a year ago with a ride to get to his “office” that was mostly for show, but since then many Northern Virginians have made a faster, more reliable trip on the Capital Beltway a way of life.
The 495 Express Lanes opened a month early on November 17, 2012, introducing the biggest change to the region’s traffic patterns in more than 30 years and improving the traveling experience for everyone who uses the Capital Beltway. In its first year the 495 Express Lanes delivered on the promise of faster, more reliable trips; new options for carpools and bus riders; and enhanced incident response.
Please join us as we take a look back at the first year of operations on the 495 Express Lanes.
495 Express Lanes: The First Year
July 10, 2013
About LCNV
One of the great things about Northern Virginia is the diversity of its communities. People from many different places around the world come to live in this area. While diversity enriches our culture, it also brings the issue of language barriers for those who are not native English speakers. To help newcomers improve their English and more fully participate in family and civic life, the Literary Council of Northern Virginia (LCNV) offers basic literacy courses.
Founded by volunteers in 1962, LCNV is Virginia’s oldest community-based adult literacy nonprofit. Its mission is to teach adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and understanding English in order to participate fully in their communities. The organization offers four literacy-based programs that teach basic English skills to students at different levels. There are 12 sites throughout Fairfax County and Alexandria City that offer one-on-one tutoring programs and group classroom programs based on students’ needs.
Students improve skills in language and literacy, which translates into family skills, self-sufficiency and job preparation. Last year, LCNV enrolled 1,496 low-income adults in its programs. LCNV programs focus on pre-literate adults and adults with learning deficiencies.
The Family Learning Program provides English literacy classes for families with children and low-income, immigrant parents in a collaborative classroom environment. Children participate in literacy-related activities while their parents learn English in a way that relates to their daily lives. The classes focus on family learning and encourage parental involvement.
“More than half of the adult learners at the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia are motivated to help their children in school,” said Patti Donnelly, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia. “Helping adults develop basic literacy and language skills also influences the next generation. I would like to see the Family Learning Program continue to grow as the organization grows.”
495 Express Lanes Grant Support
The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia relies on the partnerships and support of local residents and businesses to help fund their much-needed programs. The Transurban-Fluor 495 Express Lanes Grant Program awarded a grant to the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia’s Family Learning Program located at Crestwood Elementary in Springfield. The program marked its 12th successful year of offering the literacy classes to adults in the area in 2013.
The 495 Express Lanes team chose to support LCNV’s Family Learning Program because of its dedication to enriching the lives of members of the community.
“Transurban-Fluor believes in supporting organizations that work to improve their communities,” said Kevin Ginnerty, Transurban’s Director of Project Delivery. “The Family Learning Program provides Northern Virginians with an opportunity to improve their English language skills in order to live more fulfilled lives. We are proud to support an organization that has a mission to improve the lives of the members of our community.”
More Information
To find out more about the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and ways to get involved, visit www.lcnv.org. To stay informed about the latest LCNV news, please “like” their Facebook page.
September 1, 2013
Relief is on the way to help relieve one of the most congested areas on the Beltway.
The 495 Express Lanes have greatly improved travel in Northern Virginia, and in late 2014, drivers will be able to get to their destinations even faster with a new shoulder-use lane project.
The 495 Northbound Shoulder-use Lane Project will bring extra capacity and new benefits to all Beltway travelers by allowing traffic to travel on the left shoulder of northbound I-495 for a stretch spanning from the end of the 495 Express Lanes (near MD) to just past the George Washington Parkway Interchange – approximately 1.5 miles. The project will have no impact to nearby bridges and neighborhoods.
The additional lane will provide five travel lanes – open to all Beltway travelers – to help traffic merge from the end of the 495 Express Lanes to the regular Beltway during morning and afternoon peak travel times. Here are other benefits you can look forward to:
Construction of the $20 million project is scheduled to start in mid-2014. When open in late 2014, the lanes will be controlled by overhead signals.
The shoulder-use lane project will add extra capacity in a congested area of the Beltway and will improve your trip no matter how you travel.
For more information on the 495 Northbound Shoulder-use Lane Project construction, please view this press release.
June 24, 2013
Alexandria, Va. – 495 Express Lanes today announced that the speed limit on the 495 Express Lanes has increased to 65 miles per hour. The speed increase, effective today, will help Northern Virginia drivers save even more time when traveling on the Capital Beltway in Virginia.
“Since opening late last year, the 495 Express Lanes have provided drivers with a predictable travel option and with significant time savings,” said Michael Whelan, Vice President of Operations for Transurban. “The speed limit increase makes a great travel option better by providing an even faster option to drivers in Northern Virginia. Drivers, buses and carpoolers will get an even more predictable trip and getting to popular destinations such as Tysons Corner will be easier than ever before.”
While the speed limit on the 495 Express Lanes is now 65 mph, the speed limit on the mainline Beltway lanes will remain 55 mph. Drivers traveling on the Express Lanes will now see new regulatory on-road signs reflecting the speed increase on the left side of the roadway.
Before increasing the speed limit on the Express Lanes, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Express Lanes team completed extensive safety studies. Based on the results, VDOT determined that increasing the speed limit to 65 mph was safe, as it is proportional to the speeds on mainline 495 and allows for safe merging and lane changing.
Open for almost seven months, the Express Lanes are still a relatively new travel option in Northern Virginia and safety is top-of-mind. Before taking a trip in the Express Lanes, drivers should:
The 495 Express Lanes operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dynamic pricing based on real-time traffic conditions manages the demand for the lanes, keeping the Express Lanes moving. All drivers need an E-ZPass to use the Express Lanes – there are no toll booths or options to pay cash. Other drivers may pay a toll for a faster, more predictable trip.
Drivers with questions about the speed limit increase are encouraged to contact the Express Lanes Customer Service Center with questions.
About 495 Express Lanes
The 495 Express Lanes are new high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes that operate on I-495/Capital Beltway to provide drivers faster and more predictable travel options on I-495. The two new HOT lanes in each direction on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway are from the Springfield Interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road (approximately 14 miles). Delivered through a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban-Fluor, the Express Lanes give drivers the freedom to control how and when they arrive at their destination. For more information, please visit 495ExpressLanes.com.
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May 20, 2013
The 495 Express Lanes is one of the most technologically advanced roadways in the United States. In April 2013, the project was awarded a “Best Innovative Product” award from the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) as part of the 2013 Best of ITS Awards. The project, delivered through a unique public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and Transurban, was recognized for its extensive use of intelligent transportation systems technologies.
Here’s a snapshot of the innovative technology that helped the Express Lanes win the “Best Innovative Product” award and that keeps the Express Lanes running, ensuring you have a smooth, predictable trip:
What does all this technology mean for drivers?
April 1, 2013
About the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
It's no surprise that the university conceived by a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, who was also a former Virginia governor, a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress and an American founding father, aims to keep nurturing public servants in Virginia. The University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership was founded in 1993 with a mission to strengthen the quality of all levels of government throughout Virginia.
The Sorensen Institute offers five programs designed for everyone from high school and college students to first-time political candidates and influential business and community leaders. The non-partisan institute does not take sides, endorse candidates or express opinions on issues or legislation. It strives to improve political leadership by bringing together diverse individuals with a passion for politics and public service.
To inspire and groom students for careers in public service, the institute offers two youth programs, one for college students and another for high school students. Both youth programs are residential and held during the summer at the University of Virginia. They feature Virginia-focused, multidisciplinary curriculum with three main goals:
495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support
Although housed at the University of Virginia, the Sorensen Institute is funded entirely on contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. The economic downturn made it increasingly difficult for many families and young students to afford the two-week College Leaders Program.
A 495 Express Lanes grant allowed the Sorensen Institute to help students from the Beltway-corridor defray the cost to attend the College Leaders Program.
"Without the support of the 495 Express Lanes grant, some of the students we assisted with scholarship funds would have not been able to attend the program,” said Colleen Smith, deputy director at the Sorensen Institute. “Our classroom experience and diversity of participants would have suffered without the perspective of the students supported by the grant,” she said.
Students in the College Leaders Program enjoy learning from and networking with state and local leaders. The students also work in small groups to write, defend and lobby for legislation as part of the program.
The Commonwealth and its citizens also benefit from the students' participation – bills supporting grants for beekeepers, course credit for American Sign Language classes and updates to family life curriculum were crafted by Sorensen Institute students. The bills have since been approved by Virginia's General Assembly.
"We work regularly with our colleagues in the Virginia legislature and local government. Without the efforts and support of our elected officials, public-private partnerships like the 495 Express Lanes would never have been possible,” said Kevin Ginnerty, director of project delivery at Transurban. “Supporting the Sorensen Institute and their work to train the next generation of Virginia leadership was a great fit for our grant program."
More Information
To learn more about the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and the programs available to soon-to-be or current public servants and community members of all ages, please visit www.sorenseninstitute.org. The Institute encourages individuals, corporations and foundations to help improve governance in Virginia and consider donating funds to help the Institute with its mission.
April 1, 2013
Alexandria, Va. – 495 Express Lanes today announced that all drivers can travel for free on the Express Lanes from April 6 to 7. The free weekend provides drivers with an opportunity to experience travel in the Express Lanes toll-free with or without an E-ZPass®.
The free weekend program is part of an educational campaign to encourage Beltway drivers to try the new travel option on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway to see how they could benefit from the Express Lanes. The 495 Express Lanes provide new options for a faster, more predictable trip on the Capital Beltway and give drivers more control over how and when they get to their destination.
Details of the free travel weekend:
As always, drivers are encouraged to please be alert and careful on the road – avoid distractions and drive safely.
“Regular Express Lanes users are spending less time in traffic and have noted that it is much easier to get to destinations in Merrifield and Tysons Corner as a result of the new Express Lanes exits,” said Pierce Coffee, director of marketing, Transurban, operator of the 495 Express Lanes. “This free weekend is a great opportunity for area drivers to do a test run of their commute to the office or try the new exits in Merrifield at Route 29 and in Tysons at Westpark Drive and Jones Branch Drive. If you haven’t tried the Express Lanes, now is your chance to practice using the Express Lanes so you can take advantage of a faster, more predictable trip.”
In addition to offering a free weekend of travel, the 495 Express Lanes will also temporarily lift the E-ZPass requirement on April 6 and 7 only. All drivers are required to travel with an E-ZPass at all other times with carpoolers needing an E-ZPass® FlexSM. Drivers can get an E-ZPass online at the E-ZPass website – www.ezpassva.com. E-ZPass is also available at retail locations including AAA Mid-Atlantic stores, select Wegmans and Giant stores in Northern Virginia, E-ZPass Customer Service Centers and the Tysons Corner DMV. Find out where you can get an E-ZPass here: www.495ExpressLanes.com/using-ezpass.
Before using the Express Lanes, drivers are encouraged to find out how to enter and exit the lanes. The 495 Express Lanes website – www.495ExpressLanes.com – features tools to help drivers prepare for their first trip in the Express Lanes. On the site, drivers can plan their trip or watch detailed videos demonstrating how to get on and off the Express Lanes.
About 495 Express Lanes
The 495 Express Lanes are high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes that operate on the I-495/Capital Beltway to provide drivers faster and more predictable travel options on I-495. The two new HOT lanes in each direction on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway are from the Springfield Interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road (approximately 14 miles). Delivered through a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban-Fluor, the Express Lanes give drivers more freedom to control how and when they arrive at their destination. For more information, please visit 495ExpressLanes.com, and for rules of the road, visit 495ExpressLanes.com\termsandconditions.
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February 20, 2013
About the Transportation Association of Greater Springfield
Residents, business-owners and employees who work or travel in Springfield, Virginia are no strangers to traffic woes. The community is home to the Springfield Interchange, the junction where Interstates 95, 395 and 495 meet and mix in a maze of flyovers, bridges and ramps. Until an eight-year construction project rebuilt the interchange, the 400,000 drivers who traveled it daily endured risky merge areas and terrible traffic delays. Today, drivers enjoy the improved interchange, which was completed in 2007. But in neighborhood streets, transportation challenges persist.
Citizens and employees in Springfield can turn to a local non-profit for help. The Transportation Association of Greater Springfield (TAGS) was created in 1999 to educate the community about and advocate for creative commuting options in the Springfield region. The organization, a public-private transportation management association, is dedicated to improving the local transportation system.
To support its efforts, TAGS works closely with Fairfax County and Metro to market transit services and alternative commute options to local residents and businesses. Together, they help to fund a flexible, inexpensive shuttle bus service, owned and operated by Metro, that runs to major commercial districts, transportation hubs and retail areas throughout the area. They also regularly host programs to educate the community on transportation-related issues.
TAGS started the Friends of TAGS program in 2011 to strengthen relationships with local businesses and those who ride the group’s shuttle. The program bolsters grassroots support and encourages residents to stay informed of key transportation issues.
495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support
The TAGS organization is funded both by public and private funds, both of which have become tougher to obtain during the economic recovery. Given the success of the first Friends of TAGS event in 2011, the group wanted to connect with their constituents again in 2012. A community grant from Transurban-Fluor helped TAGS fund both the first and second Friends of TAGS events.
At the event, volunteers staffed tables adjacent to shuttle stops, giving TAGS representatives an opportunity to thank riders for their patronage and to receive feedback. As riders exited the shuttles, the volunteers passed out information, gave away drinks, snacks, t-shirts and other freebies and answered questions.
“We really appreciate the ongoing community support from Transurban-Fluor,” said Friends of TAGS administrator Joan Clark, “It is critical for our continuing efforts to bring information and service to the Greater Springfield community.”
The Express Lanes team supported the event because of the similar mission between the two organizations.
“Both TAGS and Transurban-Fluor work to introduce new transportation options for northern Virginians and we appreciate the work that TAGS does to improve travel in the Springfield region,” said Kevin Ginnerty, director of project delivery at Transurban. “We are proud to support TAGS and their efforts to advocate for improvements on behalf of local residents and businesses.”
The Friends of TAGS program received positive feedback from the community. “Lots of people appreciated that we were out there. Look for the next Friends of TAGS event coming up soon,” commented Joan Clark.
More Information
For additional information about TAGS and ways to get around in the Springfield region, visit www.tagsva.org.
To stay informed about the latest regional transportation developments, please “like” their Facebook page
For additional questions, email tags@tagsva.org
February 20, 2013
Since the 495 Express Lanes opened on November 17, 2012, they have provided Northern Virginia drivers with a faster, more predictable trip. In December 2012 and January 2013, the Express Lanes team conducted an independent research study of 1,760 frequent Capital Beltway drivers in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. The research reveals drivers’ overall impressions, experiences and opinions of traveling on the Beltway and the 495 Express Lanes in its first two months of operations.
The survey found:
Traffic congestion is area residents’ biggest concern:
Top reasons travelers had used the Express Lanes*:
*Respondents asked to select all that apply
All drivers must have an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® FlexSM to use the Express Lanes, but some drivers are missing out on a faster, more predictable commute:
Express Lanes users give the new travel option high marks:
While the majority of drivers who have used the Express Lanes are likely to use them again, there are some barriers to first-time use:
Express Lanes users save time: