D.C. Area Close to Getting Toll Lanes

WASHINGTON - A debate over HOT lanes became heated at Wednesday's Transportation Planning Board meeting.

The board added its support to a plan that would expand part of the Capitol Beltway in Virginia to as many as 12 lanes. But that came only after members argued over where the toll profits - if any - should go.

The HOT lanes would run from the Springfield Interchange to Georgetown Pike. Dubbed "Lexus Lanes" by some, the toll lanes have been controversial since the Virginia Department of Transportation proposed them.

During Wednesday's debate, 10 board members wanted to add language directing that any profits from the proposed lanes go for public transit.

"Transit needs to be a part of what we do, not an afterthought," said board member Catherine Hudgins, representing Fairfax County, Va., where the lanes would be located.

TPB chairman Phil Mendelson asked to change the language to specify that if there were profits, "the surplus should be directed" to Metro. Mendelson acted following complaints about what others called "vague" or "watered down" language that said in the event of a surplus, "consideration should be given" to public transportation.

Jo Anne Sorenson, representing VDOT, opposed the change - saying the committee worked hard on the exact wording to give them flexibility to build roads instead.

Mendelson's amendment failed 14-10 with nearly all Maryland members opposed. That led Arlington County, Va., member Chris Zimmerman to accuse Maryland members of opposing anything that would weaken their bargaining position in any future debates over the Intercounty Connector.

"This isn't about transit at all. It's about roads and it's about one road (the ICC)," Zimmerman said. "It shows the fundamental weakness of this regional body as a planning body - which it isn't."

The ICC - on the drawing board for decades - would link Montgomery and Prince George's counties, north of the Beltway.

The board also outlined goals including using electronic toll collection, and varying the amount of the toll depending on the time of day. Buses and car pools would ride free.

AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Lon Anderson said he initially opposed the idea of drivers paying tolls.

"It's a shotgun wedding, but we are at the alter," Anderson said. "We are no longer cold or lukewarm on HOT lanes - we support it. We have to find a solution to traffic."

VDOT estimates the project will cost almost $899 million.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)