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On-Road Testing of 495 Express Lanes Set to Begin August 13

August 13, 2012

Alexandria, Va. – Beginning the week of August 13 through the end of the month, the 495 Express Lanes team will be testing the Express Lanes’ tolling and traffic management systems through a series of “test-drives” at highway speeds in the 495 Express Lanes.  Drivers traveling on the adjacent Beltway lanes are advised to stay alert when traveling on the Beltway during this time, as the lanes are not yet open to the traveling public.

The on-road vehicle testing is part of a thorough series of system tests that are underway on the 495 Express Lanes – all of which are necessary to ensure that the 495 Express Lanes’ tolling and traffic management equipment and systems (on the roadway and in the Operations Center) work properly and can manage Express Lanes traffic at all times.  

“The all-electronic facility will use technology to manage travel on the Express Lanes and get drivers moving on the Beltway,” commented Tim Steinhilber, Transurban-Fluor’s General Manager of the 495 Express Lanes.  “The full functionality of the 495 Express Lanes’ tolling and traffic management system is essential to the success of the 495 Express Lanes. This testing phase is critical to ensure that our systems are ready to deliver faster and more predictable travel to drivers.”

Steinhilber added, “Because the on-road testing will be clearly visible to travelers on the adjacent Beltway lanes, it is important that drivers stay alert and do not follow these vehicles into the Express Lanes. As always, drivers should avoid distractions when traveling the Beltway during the testing phase and through the remaining months of busy 495 Express Lanes construction.”  

What to Expect:

  • The on-road vehicle testing is scheduled to begin the week of August 13, with marked test vehicles driving certain sections of the 14-mile Express Lanes Corridor. Testing will continue the week of August 20.
  • During this time, a variety of vehicles will travel in a loop on the 495 Express Lanes, from approximately the Gallows Road Interchange to the Route 123 Interchange in Tysons Corner, simulating real-time traffic conditions in order to test the Express Lanes’ tolling and traffic management systems.
  • The vehicles will operate under a series of defined scenarios such as various speeds and lane selections, and will generate enough trips to accurately test the tolling system that will manage traffic on the Express Lanes. Some test drives will be above normal highway speeds.
  • Testing will occur throughout the day to capture various driving conditions, and traffic control operators at the Express Lanes Operations Center will be monitoring the roadway at all times.
  • Many of the newly installed electronic message signs on the Express Lanes and on local roads within the corridor will be activated and display clearly marked test messages.

Technologies and Equipment undergoing Testing:

  • On-road traffic sensors, which will monitor traffic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to gather the traffic data necessary to determine toll prices.
  • Electronic message signs, which are placed in advance of each Express Lanes access point, to inform drivers of real-time toll prices so they can decide whether to enter the Express Lanes.
  • E-ZPass® readers (radio frequency identification technology), which are installed on the overhead gantries and will communicate with vehicle E-ZPass transponders to pass transaction information to the Express Lanes Operations Center to process trips and charge tolls.
  • Closed-circuit and automatic incident-detection cameras on the roadway, which will be used to manage traffic by quickly detecting incidents and alerting the Express Lanes Operations Center traffic control operators to notify dedicated incident-response crews assigned to the Express Lanes.

What Drivers Need to Know Before the Express Lanes Open:

  • All drivers, including carpoolers, will need an E-ZPass or E-ZPass® FlexSM for the all-electronic 495 Express Lanes.
  • Pricing will change for the Express Lanes based on real-time traffic conditions to manage the demand for the lanes, keeping the Express Lanes moving.  The technology being tested will help keep the Express Lanes free flowing.
  • Signage in advance of each entry point will show the price to three destinations. Drivers will lock in their rate when they enter the Express Lanes.  
  • The Express Lanes are expected to be completed by December 2012.

About 495 Express Lanes
The 495 Express Lanes are new high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes that will 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).  Being delivered through a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban-Fluor, the Express Lanes will 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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Get an E-ZPass®, Win a MINI From the 495 Express Lanes

May 25, 2012

Alexandria, Va.– 495 Express Lanes today announced the launch of a three-month car giveaway contest designed to accelerate the adoption of E-ZPass and the new E-ZPass® FlexSM among Northern Virginia drivers in anticipation of the Express Lanes opening later this year.  The lucky winner will custom-design his or her own MINI from Passport MINI of Alexandria.

To enter the contest, participants must register their E-ZPass on the 495 Express Lanes website – www.495ExpressLanes.com/winaMINI – by August 31, 2012.  Drivers who do not currently have an E-ZPass can visit the 495 Express Lanes website to learn where to get an E-ZPass, register on the Express Lanes website and enter to win the MINI.  Complete rules and regulations are available on the 495 Express Lanes website. 

“As a Northern Virginia business, we could not be more excited about the 495 Express Lanes – a project that will put drivers back in control of their commutes on the Capital Beltway,” said Jay Klein, vice president, Passport BMW/MINI/Toyota. “Like the Express Lanes, our business is all about keeping people moving and we can’t wait to put one lucky Northern Virginia driver behind the wheel of their own custom-designed MINI.”

The MINI giveaway is part of an educational campaign to prepare Virginia Beltway travelers for the new travel option coming on the Capital Beltway.  The 495 Express Lanes will provide new options for a faster, more predictable trip on the Capital Beltway in Virginia and help drivers control how and when they get to their destination.  To keep traffic moving at free flowing speeds, drivers will need an E-ZPass to use the Express Lanes – there are no toll booths or options to pay cash.  Carpoolers will need the new E-ZPass Flex to ensure a toll-free trip on the Express Lanes. The E-ZPass Flex will be available in July.

“As we approach the opening of the 495 Express Lanes later this year, we are focused on getting Northern Virginia drivers ready to use the Lanes,” said Tim Steinhilber, Transurban’s general manager for the 495 Express Lanes Project.  “An important first step is getting an E-ZPass as all drivers must have an E-ZPass to use the Lanes.  If you don’t have an E-ZPass, this summer is the time to get one.  Not only will you experience the benefits of E-ZPass, you’ll also have the opportunity to win a MINI.”

Travelers can see various MINI models at upcoming community festivals and events where the 495 Express Lanes and Passport MINI of Alexandria teams will be. Visit the 495 Express Lanes booth at the following events to learn more about MINI and how to enter to win:

  • Viva Vienna
  • Springfield Days 5K/15K run
  • Celebrate Fairfax
  • Grand Slam Fest
  • Taste of Reston

The 495 Express Lanes are two new high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in each direction from the Springfield Interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway.  The 14-mile Express Lanes will be free for carpoolers with three or more people, buses, motorcycles and emergency vehicles.  Other drivers may pay a toll for a faster, more predictable trip. 

The 495 Express Lanes are on schedule to be completed in late 2012 and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The lanes will use dynamic pricing to keep traffic free flowing and provide a more predictable travel option on the Beltway.  Dynamic pricing based on real-time traffic conditions manages the demand for the lanes, keeping the Express Lanes moving.  Drivers will lock in their rate when they enter the lanes and pay tolls electronically with E-ZPass. 

In addition to providing drivers with an option for a more predictable trip, the 495 Express Lanes will include three new Beltway entry and exit points meaning a safer and more direct route to popular locations in Tysons Corner and Merrifield.

About 495 Express Lanes

The 495 Express Lanes are new high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes that will 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).  Being delivered through a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban-Fluor, the Express Lanes will give drivers the freedom to control how and when they arrive at their destination.  For more information, please visit 495ExpressLanes.com. 

About Passport MINI of Alexandria

Passport MINI of Alexandria opened their doors in 2009, quickly becoming the top MINI dealership on the East Coast, providing their famous dedication to customer service and loyalty to MINI enthusiasts. For more information, please visitwww.passportmini.com.

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Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Program – Empowering Residents to Improve the Watershed

February 9, 2012

About the Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Program

When it rains, most people think galoshes, umbrellas, soggy pant legs and bad hair days.  But for the staff of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD), a rainy day means an opportunity for Northern Virginians to take steps to improve local water quality and generate their own water sources. 

NVSWCD, Arlington County, Falls Church, Alexandria and Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment deliver the Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Program to area residents.  Launched in 2006, the program works to educate Northern Virginians about how they can use low-cost rain barrels as a tool to ensure the protection of the area’s water quality and streams.

According to Lily Whitesell, a watershed specialist with the NVSWCD, when it rains in non-urban areas, there is a natural rise and fall in streams.  However, when it rains in residential areas, large amounts of water flows down our roofs, over our lawns and along our roads, entering the storm drains and ending up in our streams.  When this happens, fertilizer, pesticides, pet waste, motor oil and other chemicals are picked up and funneled directly into tributaries which feed the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, threatening water quality. 

To help make an impact, the Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Program offers two-hour rain barrel workshops throughout Northern Virginia. During the workshops, residents learn about their watershed, how residential rain barrels help protect water quality in the local environment and build and take home a rain barrel for their own use. Program partners also offer distributions of pre-made rain barrels.

The program’s rain barrels – recycled 55-gallon pickle, olive and jalapeño pepper barrels – are connected to the downspout of a house and hold rain runoff that flows from the roof.  The conserved rainwater can then be used to water gardens or wash cars and is gradually absorbed into the ground.

Whitesell notes that the Rain Barrel Program is important for three reasons:

1. It’s a tangible action that people can take to help solve a problem:  Communities can help mitigate the damages that impervious surfaces can have on stream water quality in the area.  “In the D.C. area where it can rain one day, followed by a period of dry conditions, it’s a great way to get more people aware of how to harvest rain water,” Whitesell notes. “Through the impervious surfaces we use every day – our homes, roads, schools, shops and offices, we are all contributing to the water quality problem.  This program allows us to be part of the solution too.” 

2. It’s a vehicle for education:  “It’s a great program for people who want to do the right thing but aren’t sure where to start,” Whitesell said.  “At the workshops, we take a basic look at what we all can do: conservation landscaping in your yard, cut back on fertilizer and pesticide use, install a rain barrel or even a rain garden, or simply adopt your nearest storm drain and make sure nothing goes in it except rain or snow.”

3. It’s a way to help conserve water and money:  “In our area, we are fortunate to have about 3.5 feet of rain per year, but much of the country is not as fortunate.  Reinforcing the message of water conservation is important. Plus, it’s always nice to save money on your water bill,” Whitesell said.

495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support

The Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Program is a self-sustaining program funded through the sale of rain barrels.  NVSWCD and the Fairfax County Stormwater Planning Division, together with local neighborhood association leaders, applied for a grant from Transurban-Flour to offer free rain barrel workshops to residents of neighborhoods in the 495 Express Lanes corridor.

The Rain Barrel Program was able to distribute more barrels in the community through funds from the 495 Express Lanes Community Grant Program, reaching more people and multiplying its impact. 

“Because the barrels were free and part of a community-building event, we reached people who would have otherwise not been reached,” Whitesell said.  “The program educated residents about impervious surfaces and their impact on local stream health and the larger Chesapeake Bay watershed, and empowered individuals to make a difference in storm water management on their own property.”

The Express Lanes team chose to support the Rain Barrel Program because of its commitment to the environment.

“Transurban-Fluor believes in supporting organizations that work to improve their communities,” said Tim Steinhilber, Transurban’s general manager for the 495 Express Lanes Project.  “The Rain Barrel Program provides Northern Virginians with the tools they need to protect the area’s water quality.  We are proud to support an organization that has a mission based on improving the streams of our communities.”

More Information

Northern Virginia residents are invited to attend rain barrel workshops.  For additional information about the Rain Barrel Program or to register for a workshop, visit the rain barrel website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/rainbarrels.htm

For additional questions, email rainbarrel@fairfaxcounty.gov

Fairfax County Park Authority – Bonding the Parks with the Arts

February 9, 2012

About the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Concert Series

For most busy families, an invitation to spend a summer evening together listening to live music in a comfortable, picturesque venue elicits responses of, “What’s the catch?” or more importantly, “How much?” 

With the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Concert Series, however, there is no catch.  For the past 20 years, it has offered free, outdoor community concerts throughout Fairfax County to Northern Virginia families.  

“The outdoor concerts give residents a chance to get close with nature and enjoy their friends and family for the evening, without spending any money,” said Sousan Frankenberger, special event and volunteer manager for the Fairfax County Park Authority.

The Summer Concert Series offers more than 200 concerts each summer season in Fairfax County parks. The concerts average 70,000 attendees per season and in 2011 featured diverse musical programming including jazz, folk, and bluegrass. International dancers, puppets and storytellers were among other acts that performed on the parks’ stages.

“The concerts create an environment where families spanning from grandparents to toddlers can join together based on their love of the arts,” Frankenberger said.  “As an added benefit, the concerts are great because patrons get to know their neighborhood parks.  They appreciate the overall environment and natural settings, which in turn, creates park stewards.”

495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support

The Summer Concert series helps build a sense of community in Northern Virginia by bringing together neighborhoods, sponsors, and volunteers. 

While county sources such as the Fairfax County Park Authority, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County arts communities, the Fairfax County Arts Organization, and volunteers provide in-kind support, no Fairfax County tax monies are used to support the program.  The concert series depends on sponsors to help fund the concerts. 

“We’re lucky that there are many performers in the area, but the main challenge we face is having enough funding to pay them,” Frankenberger said. 

To help cover the cost of the concerts, the Fairfax County Park Foundation applied for a community grant from the 495 Express Lanes.  The grant funding supported programming for four concert series. 

“Grants from sponsors such as the 495 Express Lanes show that donors are still willing to contribute during difficult economic times to provide something valuable to the community,” Frankenberger said.  “We’re very appreciative of the grant as it helps us provide a greater number of quality shows.”

Frankenberger said the concert series aims to create an enjoyable evening for concert guests and a bond between the parks and the arts, and adds that “the grant from the 495 Express Lanes Community Grant Program helped us achieve just that.”

The Express Lanes team chose to support the summer concert series because of its commitment to the community.

“The summer concert series is not only a great family event, but it also provides residents with an opportunity to learn more about the parks in the area,” said Tim Steinhilber, Transurban’s general manager for the 495 Express Lanes Project. “We are pleased to support the Summer Concert Series through the Park Foundation so that the Fairfax County Park Authority can continue its great work for the community and environment.”

More Information

The Fairfax County Park Authority is planning next year’s Summer Concert Series and is always looking for new talent for the concerts and volunteers to staff the events.  To submit talent or volunteer names, please email Sousan Frankenberger at Sousan.Frankeberger@fairfaxcounty.gov or call (703) 324-8566.

For updates on the entire concert series, please visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances

Governor McDonnell Announces 495 Express Lanes Project Brings Nearly $450 Million in Small Business Contracting

February 9, 2012

Richmond, Va. – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that the 495 Express Lanes project on the Capital Beltway in northern Virginia has awarded nearly $450 million in contracts to small and disadvantaged businesses.
 
“The 495 Express Lanes commitment to small, women, and minority-owned businesses is the largest in Virginia’s history for a single transportation project,” McDonnell said. “In these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever to support businesses in our local communities. The Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban-Fluor partnership to foster small-business participation in the 495 Express Lanes construction can be a model for other governments embarking on large, multiyear infrastructure improvements.”
 
Since 2007, VDOT, Transurban-Fluor and design-builder Fluor-Lane have focused on increasing small and disadvantaged business participation in the construction of the 495 Express Lanes, a five-year, $1.3 billion initiative to improve traffic flow along the Capital Beltway. Four new lanes, set to be completed in late 2012, will span a 14-mile stretch of the Beltway.
   
To date, the VDOT and Transurban-Fluor partnership has engaged 134 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) companies and 149 Small, Women, and Minority Owned (SWaM) companies. Approximately 75 percent of the small and disadvantaged businesses are headquartered in Virginia, and approximately 17 percent are headquartered in the local Maryland area or the District of Columbia. Moreover, the partnership continues to seek ways to work together to build upon existing commitments.
 
Before construction started, the team focused on creating contract opportunities tailored to increase DBE/SWaM participation. The partnership then identified and encouraged DBE and SWaM companies to submit bids by hosting Business Opportunity Sessions.  Work scope sessions were held with prime contractors, diversity subcontractors, and suppliers to forge relationships and to encourage partnerships on opportunities within the project.  Once construction started, the business development team shifted its focus to support awarded contractors to ensure their success.
 
Beyond just the small business contracting success, the total economic impact of the 495 Express Lanes project is significant. Construction is supporting 11,800 jobs and is expected to generate $2.7 billion in economic benefit for the Washington Metropolitan Area over the 2008-2013 period, according to a study by the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis. In addition to the immediate construction benefits, the completed project is expected to accelerate business growth and increase property values throughout the region.   
 
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Capital Beltway HOT Lanes Education Campaign Kicks Off Today

January 9, 2012

Alexandria, Va.– A new educational campaign to prepare Virginia Beltway travelers for the landmark change coming to travel on I-495 kicked off today.  The HOT Lanes, now formally known as the 495 Express Lanes, will provide extensive new options for a faster, more predictable trip on the Capital Beltway in Virginia and help drivers control how and when they get to their destination.  Today’s website launch is a first step in a year-long education campaign focused on educating the community on how to safely take advantage of the new travel options when the lanes open in late 2012. 

The 495 Express Lanes are two new high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in each direction from the Springfield Interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway.  The 14-mile Express Lanes will be free for carpoolers with three or more people, buses, motorcycles and emergency vehicles.  Other drivers may pay a toll for a faster, more predictable trip.  The name of the new traffic solution has changed from HOT Lanes to Express Lanes because the on-road signage will say “EXPRESS” and we want customers to become familiar with what they will see on the road.

The new 495 Express Lanes website focuses on educating the community on what the Express Lanes are and how to use the new travel option.  The website includes everything from detailed maps outlining how each interchange will work to information about safety in the lanes.  On the website, customers and the community can:

  • Understand how the Express Lanes will improve Beltway travel
  • Learn how to use the new Express Lanes
  • Plan new routes on the Express Lanes
  • Get personalized Express Lanes information including customized directions and sign up for email alerts
  • Find safety tips before using the Express Lanes

“The 495 Express Lanes will fundamentally change how the region thinks about and uses the Capital Beltway in Virginia,” said Tim Steinhilber, Transurban’s general manager for the 495 Express Lanes Project.  “Between the new exits and on-ramps, the new travel options and the significant increase in capacity, the Beltway will be wholly different than just a few years ago.  Drivers and local businesses need to understand the scale of this change, examine the details to prepare to use them and see how the lanes will benefit them. It’s also essential that all future customers know the rules of the road to ensure a safe trip for themselves and those around them.”

The 495 Express Lanes will provide much-needed relief to heavily congested Northern Virginia.  According to the Texas Transportation Institute’s 2011 Urban Mobility Report, the Washington, D.C. area has the worst traffic congestion in the United States and yearly commutes that are twice as long as the national average.

“The 495 Express Lanes are the first roadway of their kind in the region,” said Gregory A. Whirley Sr., VDOT Commissioner.  “As with anything new, there is a learning curve and we want to make sure drivers and the community are educated and equipped to use the lanes.  The more customers understand, the greater the benefits they will see from the lanes – no matter how frequently they intend to use them.”

The 495 Express Lanes are on schedule to be completed in late 2012 and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The lanes will use dynamic pricing to keep traffic free flowing and provide a more predictable travel option on the Beltway.  Dynamic pricing based on real-time traffic conditions manages the demand for the lanes, keeping the Express Lanes moving.  Drivers will lock in their rate when they enter the lanes and pay tolls electronically with E-ZPass.  There are no toll booths on the Express Lanes. 

In addition to providing drivers with an option for a more predictable trip, the 495 Express Lanes will include three new Beltway entry and exit points meaning a safer and more direct route to popular locations in Tysons Corner and Merrifield.

Construction on the 495 Express Lanes is fully underway.  The project includes the replacement of more than $260 million of aging infrastructure including 58 bridges and overpasses. 

About 495 Express Lanes

The 495 Express Lanes are new high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes that will 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).  Being delivered through apublic-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban-Fluor, the Express Lanes will 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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HOT Lanes: Improving Travel Across the U.S.

January 9, 2012

The 495 Express Lanes are one of many high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes facilities in the United States.  HOT lanes have improved travel and provided benefits to drivers throughout the country – continue reading to learn more. 

HOT Lanes:  A History
1995 marked the launch of the first HOT lanes facility – SR91 Express in Los Angeles.  The project’s success garnered the attention of the U.S. Congress and the Federal Highway Administration, which endorsed the HOT lanes concept when it introduced the Value Pricing Pilot Program in 1998 under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.  In 2006, the federal government reinforced its support for HOT lanes through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act:  A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which has provisions specific to HOT lanes.  Today, states across the country are implementing HOT lanes to help ease congestion and deliver affordable infrastructure.

Why are state governments building HOT Lanes?
HOT Lanes:

  • Add capacity to existing roadways or maximize existing roadways; they create free-flowing networks for carpooling and transit
  • Provide a funding mechanism to enable states to deliver transportation improvements more quickly
  • Maximize existing right-of-way to minimize the impact on the surrounding environment
  • Promote quality of life by managing congestion and providing new travel options

Providing Benefits Across the Country

HOT lanes with variable toll prices provide faster, more reliable travel times.

  • A majority of I-15 users in San Diego believe tolls are an effective way to manage demand and report travel times on HOT lanes of 20 minutes per trip.
  • Average speed during the morning commute on the Katy Freeway in Houston, Texas, was 25 mph on the general-purpose lanes and 59 mph on the HOT lanes.
  • In Minneapolis, those using the express lanes generally experience a 20 mph increase in their speed, and those in the general purpose lanes have seen a slight increase in speed.
  • In Southern California, SR-91 customers estimate they shaved nearly 30 minutes off their morning and afternoon commutes.
  • Travelers save about 20 minutes per trip on HOT lanes on I-10 in Houston.
  • In Minneapolis, 76 percent of the public is satisfied with the HOT lanes, and 85 percent are satisfied with the traffic speed. 

Toll-paying customers on HOT lanes come from all income levels and most use the lanes infrequently.

  • Only 25 percent of toll-paying customers on SR-91 in Southern California are in the top income bracket.
  • 78 percent of lower-income motorists in San Diego support local HOT lanes.
  • Most HOT lanes users on SR-91 pay to use the lanes a few times a week when they need a faster or more reliable travel time.

HOT lanes encourage carpooling.

  • According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “HOT lanes can create financial incentives to make public transport and carpooling more attractive, while continuing to ensure congestion- free travel by these vehicles.”
  • Empirical data on I-15 express lanes in San Diego suggests that tolls encourage ride sharing.
  • Carpool rates have increased nearly 9.6 percent since the SR-91 HOT lanes opened in 1995.
  • In Minneapolis, “Carpools continue to use the lanes for free…and the express lanes move as fast as ever. When traffic is heavy, prices increase, making it more likely that solo drivers will find it too expensive to take the express lanes and that those choosing transit or carpools will not be stuck in traffic.”

HOT Lanes promote reliable bus travel.

  • In Minnesota, transit operators say the presence of more drivers in the express lanes has not slowed buses down, and buses have been able to move into and out of the lanes easily.
  • During the first year of HOT lanes operations in Denver, regional buses delivered riders to their destination on schedule over 96 percent of the time.

Fairfax County Park Foundation – Bike Racks Encourage Sustainable Transportation

September 26, 2011

Bike Racks Encourage Sustainable Transportation About Dunn Loring Park and the Fairfax County Park Foundation

Dunn Loring Park in Fairfax County is pedalling forward with new bike racks for the highly congested area it serves.

Dunn Loring Park is a neighborhood recreational area that serves both the residential community and Metro riders using the Dunn Loring-Merrifield station – about a half mile away. The park is located close to the W&OD Trail and features tennis and basketball courts as well as picnic areas.

Working with the Fairfax County Park Foundation, local Brownie Troop 5689 identified the need for bike racks at Dunn Loring Park after participating in a cleanup day for a service learning project.

The Park Foundation supplements tax dollars to meet community needs for parkland and services and wanted to support the Brownies' efforts to secure bike racks, said Bobbi Longworth, executive director of the Fairfax County Park Foundation, and Paul Baldino, who recently retired from the position.

The Park Foundation decided to pursue bike rack funding for a number of reasons including that the area around the park is highly congested – cycling will help alleviate some of the traffic. In addition, the bike racks will enhance the park by providing a place for visitors to store their bikes and by encouraging cycling in the Dunn Loring area.

495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support

Due to the economic downturn and significant county budget restrictions, funding was a major obstacle in securing the new bike racks for the park. A community grant from Transurban-Fluor enabled the Park Foundation to purchase the bike racks.

"We wouldn't have been able to complete the project without the grant funding from Transurban-Fluor," Baldino said.

Transurban-Fluor chose to fund the bike racks because of its focus on regional mobility and travel choices.

"Transurban is committed to transportation solutions that are sustainable, safe, innovative and efficient," said Tim Steinhilber, general manager of the 495 Express Lanes. "As part of the 495 Express Lanes project, we will provide new bike paths and sidewalks on every Beltway crossing in the project corridor. We support projects like new bike racks in Dunn Loring Park because they encourage the sustainable and efficient transportation solutions we value."

Transurban-Fluor presented Brownie Troop 5689 and representatives from the Fairfax County Park Foundation with a check for the bike racks at Bike to Work Day on May 21, 2010. Bike to Work Day is an annual event designed to celebrate bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work. Transurban-Fluor sponsored a pit stop in Merrifield close to Dunn Loring Park.

The park is currently replacing the tennis courts. Once work on the courts is complete, the Park Foundation will install one bike rack near the picnic area and another near the courts.

Longworth said the Park Foundation will invite the Girl Scouts to a small ceremony at the park to thank them for their contribution.

More Information

For more information about the Fairfax County Park Foundation or to volunteer, please visit http://fairfaxparkfoundation.org/

George Mason University Organic Vegetable Garden – Green Plots on Urban Blocks

December 6, 2018

About the George Mason University Organic Vegetable Garden

Sustainability, organic and green aren't just buzz words at George Mason University (GMU). The university's Organic Vegetable Garden is literally bringing these words to life.

This summer the GMU Organic Vegetable Garden is yielding its first produce. The 1,000 foot wide by 1,000 foot long garden sits behind a residence building on land donated by the GMU Housing Department.

According to Danielle Wyman, Sustainability Projects Specialist for the GMU Office of Sustainability who also serves as the Garden Manager, the goal of the garden is to raise awareness about organic gardening, knowing the origin of your food and the importance of growing your own vegetables.

Founded in April 2009, the garden produces a wide variety of produce – tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, eggplant, strawberries, kale, watermelon, cantaloupe, beets, onions, beans and broccoli. In addition, there are a number of herbs such as basil, oregano, chives, mint, sage and rosemary.

It also includes peach and cherry trees, sunflowers and tobacco plants which serve as natural pest repellents.

Food harvested from the garden goes to the garden volunteers as well as local food pantries. The garden recently made its first donation to the food pantry – 92 pounds of fresh produce.

495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support

The garden's first 18 months were a learning process for management and volunteers. During the summer of 2009, the garden faced challenges including clay-rich soil and water issues. Garden management was able to make improvements with the help of a community grant from Transurban-Fluor.

Using the Transurban-Fluor community grant, garden management purchased gardening essentials –a watering hose which provides a reliable water source, a wheelbarrow, gardening tools, paint for the shed, and importantly, organic top soil.

This summer the garden has flourished and the plants are yielding plenty of produce. In July, several employees from Transurban volunteered their time and helped weed the beds, plant vegetable seeds and water.

"The garden would not have been possible without the Mason community and Transurban-Fluor," Wyman said. "Ninety-five percent of the plants and materials in the garden were donated."

Transurban-Fluor made the decision to support the organic vegetable garden because of its commitment to sustainability and the environment.

"Not only is the GMU Organic Vegetable Garden sustainable and environmentally friendly, but it has created a sense of community," said Tim Steinhilber, general manager of the 495 Express Lanes Project. "The garden serves as a living example of Transurban's core values – it's sustainable, good for the environment and improves the community."

Wyman believes the garden is making a difference in the GMU community.

"It's more than just students realizing that food from the garden tastes better than store-bought food," Wyman said. "A community has also developed. There is a sense of pride for growing something and literally enjoying the fruits of your labor."

More Information

The garden welcomes volunteers from Mason and the wider community as well as donations, such as garden tools. For more information, please contact Wyman at dwyman@gmu.edu.

Nature Playce – Connecting Kids and Nature

August 22, 2011

About Nature Playce

Squirmy worms, mud pies and tree forts – these are things children can experience at Nature Playce, a 1/3-acre open woodland space designed for safe nature play.

Located next to the Fairfax County Park Authority's Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale, Nature Playce provides a natural area where children can interact directly with nature and participate in self-directed creative play. It has one simple rule: Enter with a sense of wonder and spirit of adventure.

"Children spend 50 percent less time outdoors than their parents did," said Suzanne Holland, assistant manager of the Hidden Oaks Nature Center. "This is much more of a plugged-in generation. Children are not able to understand what nature is all about or appreciate what is around them."

The only facility of its kind in the area, Nature Playce provides a safe outdoor environment that puts parents at ease while connecting children with nature and encouraging free play. On any given day children can play with worms and bugs, find birds perched in the trees, watch a squirrel nibble on an acorn or even catch a glimpse of a few deer grazing in the woods.

Most importantly, Nature Playce creates a bond between children and nature – building a generation dedicated to protecting our environment.

"We are building future stewards," Holland said. "They are going to develop a positive relationship with nature and in the future be more actively engaged in protecting it."

495 Express Lanes Community Grant Support

Nature Playce recently added a water feature using grant money provided by Transurban-Fluor. The water feature, which includes rocks to climb on and puddles to splash in, provides children with a connection to water. In addition to the water feature, Nature Playce provides digging areas, a sandbox and fallen trees for climbing.

"We've seen amazing creative play around the water feature," Holland said. "It gives the children the ability to touch and play in a safe water environment. They make mud soup, pies and sand castles and do it all on their own."

Transurban-Fluor selected Nature Playce for a community grant because if its commitment to the environment.

"As a long-term partner in the Northern Virginia area, we are committed to the local community and its environment," said Tim Steinhilber, general manager of the 495 Express Lanes Project. "Nature Playce provides the hands-on experience with nature that undoubtedly creates environmentally conscious citizens in the future. We are pleased to have had an opportunity to assist such a unique organization."

The development of Nature Playce has been a community effort with assistance from an Eagle Scout, Kiwanis Club of Annandale, Transurban-Fluor and the Friends of Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

More Information

For more information or to volunteer at Nature Playce, please visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hiddenoaks/.

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