Someone Correct the Post

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   Today's Washington Post website has the usual uncritical article about how toll roads are somehow going to make life all better for the rich bastards who can afford them.  But they get a critical figure wrong:

	"Detractors worry that the lanes are too expensive for low-income drivers -- the estimated cost of a ride in the I-95/395 corridor, for example, is about $13 -- and some say toll lanes amount to double taxation. Carpoolers have come out against the I-95 plan over fears that it will ruin the popular practice of "slugging," in which drivers and riders form spontaneous carpools."

	If memory serves the Sponge, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' study indicated it would be closer to $40 each way in the 95/395 corridor.  Big difference.

	Anyone want to write to the Post and correct them?  Bob, did you get the expected amount from the MWCOG presentation we saw?

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SpongeBob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SpongeBob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Someone Correct the Post Posted: 27 Oct 2005 at 12:32pm
	Today's Washington Post website has the usual uncritical article about how toll roads are somehow going to make life all better for the rich bastards who can afford them. But they get a critical figure wrong: "Detractors worry that the lanes are too expensive for low-income drivers -- the estimated cost of a ride in the I-95/395 corridor, for example, is about $13 -- and some say toll lanes amount to double taxation. Carpoolers have come out against the I-95 plan over fears that it will ruin the popular practice of "slugging," in which drivers and riders form spontaneous carpools." If memory serves the Sponge, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' study indicated it would be closer to $40 each way in the 95/395 corridor. Big difference. Anyone want to write to the Post and correct them? Bob, did you get the expected amount from the MWCOG presentation we saw?

Bob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Dec 2001 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2005 at 2:12pm
	SpongeBob Take a look at this recent document submitted by Fluor. See page 9. It has a cost of $17 for the base cost I believe from Fredericksburg in 2015. I dont have time to research it but I think that is what is says. Of course, dynamic tolling would increase that http://virginiadot.org/projects/resources/Fluor-Transurban%20Response%20to%20VDOT%20Questions%20of%209%2027%2005.pdf

SpongeBob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SpongeBob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2005 at 2:35pm
	Good God, as I'm reading this Fluor document, the top of my square head is swelling fit to bust! They keep calling it "an improved facility," as if one measly lane is suddenly going to make committed SOVer's into carpoolers! Ha! If there is underused capacity on the existing HOV lanes, then the facility is as attractive to drivers as it is ever going to get. One more lane isn't going to make a difference. What tripe.

SpongeBob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SpongeBob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2005 at 3:56pm
	It looks like lakeridgeresident had the MWCOG numbers in an earlier post: "An employee of the Metro Washington Council of Govnts just gave me the actual breakdown of what tolls ought to cost to inhibit congestion: For a Lake Ridge resident, it's $35 into the city. For a Fredericksburg resident, it's $41.21 to the city ONE WAY. For exact numbers: From DC to Shirlington Rd at $1.10 per mile = 4.40 From there to the beltway it's about $1 per mile, about $9 From there to Fairfax County Parkway, it's $1.60 per mile = 6.40 From there to PWC parkway, it's .80 per mile = $14.40 From there to Fredericksburg,it's .23 per mile = $6.21"