I-495 Virginia HOT Lanes

What will the toll rate be?
How will I pay the tolls?
How will I know ahead of time what the toll will be so I can decide whether to use the lanes?
Will the tolls change while I am in the lane?
Will carpoolers be required to have an E-ZPass?
How will access and tolling in the lanes be enforced?
How can you guarantee to maintain free-flowing conditions in the HOT lanes?
Will the lanes be tolled 24 hours-a-day for non-HOV motorists?
What safety measures will be in place to manage incidents on the lanes?
Will hybrids be allowed to travel free in the lanes?
Will commercial trucks be allowed to use the HOT lanes?
Will motorcycles ride the HOT lanes for free as they do the HOV lanes?

What will the toll rate be?
Tolls for the HOT lanes will change throughout the day to regulate demand for the lanes and keep them congestion free - even during peak hours. When traffic increases, tolls will go up. When traffic decreases, tolls will go down. Toll prices may be as low as 10 cents a mile in light traffic conditions. To keep traffic on the HOT lanes flowing freely, tolls could reach around $1 per mile in some high-demand sections of the Beltway at peak times. As a guide, the average trip cost is estimated to be between $5 and $6.

How will I pay the tolls?
The HOT lanes will be fully electronic toll lanes. Customers will pay tolls with E-ZPass - eliminating the need to stop or slow down for traditional toll booths.

How will I know ahead of time what the toll will be so I can decide whether to use the lanes?
Electronic signs will provide motorists with the latest toll rates. Motorists will see electronic message signs well before they enter the HOT lanes so they will have plenty of time to choose whether to use HOT lanes or travel on the regular lanes for free. Information will also be available on the Web and through other technology-based channels.

Will the tolls change while I am in the lane?
No, drivers will lock in their toll rates when they enter the HOT lanes.

Will carpoolers be required to have an E-ZPass?
Carpoolers (HOV-3+) will have free access to HOT lanes. In order to keep violators out of the lanes it is anticipated that carpoolers will be required to carry some type of transponder or other technology that identifies them as HOV-3 for free access to the HOT lanes. This device will have to be compatible with E-ZPass and meet all applicable state and federal requirements.

Detailed plans and processes for obtaining any required transponder will be communicated to all users of the HOT lanes prior to the lanes opening.

How will access and tolling in the lanes be enforced?
Fluor-Transurban and VDOT will conduct extensive community education efforts to ensure motorists understand how to use HOT lanes. The enforcement strategy for the lanes will require all HOT lanes users to have an E-ZPass or similar transponder to use HOT lanes. Drivers without a transponder would be ticketed through the same kind of photo enforcement used on Virginia toll roads today. Additional technologies may be used to help law enforcement officers identify those vehicles most likely to be HOV violators. Protecting customer privacy will be paramount in the development of all enforcement strategies.

Enforcing HOT Lanes

How can you guarantee to maintain free-flowing conditions in the HOT lanes?
The HOT lanes will use congestion pricing to manage the number of toll-paying customers in the HOT lanes and keep them free-flowing. The HOT lanes operator has a business incentive to keep traffic moving, as travelers will not pay a toll unless they can depend on a faster and more reliable travel time.

In addition, federal regulation included in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act (SAFETEA-LU) requires the HOT lanes operator to maintain minimum average speeds of 45 mph during peak periods, but our actual target and expected speed is 55 mph.

Will the lanes be tolled 24 hours-a-day for non-HOV motorists?
Tolls will always be in effect for non-HOV motorists on the HOT lanes but there will be low toll rates during off-peak hours. Motorists will always have a choice to pay to use HOT lanes or use the regular lanes for free.

What safety measures will be in place to manage incidents on the lanes?
The HOT lanes are designed to promote driver safety. Closed-circuit video cameras and traffic sensors will continuously monitor the lanes and identify incidents on the HOT lanes within seconds. Private, dedicated incident response crews will be deployed to manage incidents quickly, in cooperation with first responders and emergency service providers. Electronic signs will alert motorists to incidents ahead.

Will hybrids be allowed to travel free in the lanes?
Hybrid drivers, like all drivers, will have choices. They may choose to pay a toll to access the free-flowing HOT lanes or use the regular lanes for free.

Will commercial trucks be allowed to use the HOT lanes?
Mid-sized trucks such as local delivery trucks may pay a toll to use the HOT lanes. Large, 18-wheel trucks will not be allowed to access the HOT lanes.

Will motorcycles ride the HOT lanes for free as they do the HOV lanes?
Yes. Federal law dictates that motorcycles will be permitted to use the HOT lanes free of charge.