Tom Warne Report, 5 July 2013
RICHMOND – Gov. Bob McDonnell announced this week that the Commonwealth is looking for proposals from the private sector to transform I-66 from a highly congested corridor to a multi-modal transportation facility that moves traffic and people more efficiently.
The Office of Transportation Public Private Partnerships, in coordination with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, issued the request for a 25-mile section of I-66 from U.S. Route 15 in Prince William County to I-495 in Fairfax County. Improvements may include adding capacity to the road, provide multi-modal options and possibly finance the project through tolled express lanes, similar to the I-495 Express Lanes.
Information from the RFI responses will help the Commonwealth to further develop the project, which may result in a formal procurement of a contract, possibly through the Public Private Transportation Act.
Currently, I-66 corridor improvements are in the environmental review process. Some of the concepts under consideration right now include widening I-66, adding bus rapid transit lanes, or converting existing carpool lanes into high-occupancy toll lanes. Other improvement concepts will also be considered by officials, such as Metrorail extension and light rail transit.