Metrorail Consideration Sought For I-495 Express Lanes Extension Study

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As a possible extension of the Capital Beltway Express Lanes is studied, some local officials believe the study is already biased toward a project with Express Lanes and does not factor in a future Metrorail extension option.

In September, the Virginia Department of Transportation revealed potential concepts with or without Express Lanes for the southside of the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) from the Springfield interchange across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to Route 210 in Prince George's County, Maryland. The Capital Beltway's Express Lanes currently end before the Springfield interchange.

Concepts explored in the study include a transportation demand management system, use of the shoulder lane during peak travel times, standalone transit lane, transit approach with new bus routes and park-and-ride lots, one or two non-toll lanes, one or two toll lanes or two reversible toll lanes in the median.

With the potential concepts open for public feedback, concerns were raised by the City of Alexandria and the Coalition for Smarter Growth, which advocates for walkable transit-oriented projects.

The Coalition for Smarter Growth's comment to VDOT said the study has already made a conclusion by stating a goal of extending the Express Lanes.

"VDOT's study is inherently biased because they determine their own conclusion even before doing detailed study," said Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. "By defining the Purpose to be 'extend the express toll lanes,' they are intentionally foreclosing other options."

The City of Alexandria's letter to VDOT expressed a similar concern.

"The criteria provided, including continuity of the Express Lane system, seem to bias the selection of alternatives towards those that include new Express Lanes, rather than those that prioritize transit and transportation demand management measures," wrote Adriana Castañeda, Alexandria's director of Transportation and Environmental Services.

Alexandria city government also expressed concern about additional traffic from new lanes, more severe crashes with vehicles able to travel at higher speeds, new access points to and from Alexandria increasing traffic on local streets, and unknown right-of-way impacts.

Another concern shared by the city and Coalition for Smarter Growth was the future of Metrorail. The Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which fully opened in 2008, had been built with room for future transportation needs, including transit across the bridge.

City government urged VDOT to preserve the opportunity for a possible future Metrorail extension.

"Future Express Lanes should not interfere with the recommendations from the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Blue Orange Silver Line Study and should allow future transit improvements to be implemented on the recommended timeline," the city's letter stated.

Metro has been studying long-term improvement options for the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines, including a Blue Line extension to National Harbor. Those projects, if pursued by Metro, would take decades to plan, design and construct and require federal and regional funding support.

The Coalition for Smarter Growth acknowledged VDOT promising the project wouldn't prevent future Metrorail. But the group expressed skepticism that a toll road operator would give up two of four toll lanes for Metrorail.

"Metrorail was promised to the region when the final agreement was reached on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the bridge was designed to handle the weight of Metrorail," added Schwartz. "Moreover, WMATA is currently studying the option of a Blue Line loop across the bridge, but VDOT is not proposing to advance this alternative."

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation already completed a transportation demand management study, finding new bus services could benefit from extended Express Lanes. A rail extension was not found to be as cost-effective as bus for moving people through the corridor but that roadway improvements should not prevent future rail extensions.

The city requested that VDOT present the next steps for the project at an Alexandria Transportation Commission meeting.

Meanwhile, the Coalition for Smarter Growth wants VDOT "to go back to the drawing board and restart its study" with a different purpose than simply extending Express Lanes and more fairly include options like transit.

VDOT's public comment period on the study has been extended to 5 p.m. on Oct. 10.