06/08/2022
Traffic volumes continued to slowly recover in 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed. An increasing number of people returned to in-office work as 2021 advanced, with corresponding increases in traffic volumes and tolls. With commuter bus, carpool, van pool, and Metrorail ridership remaining well below pre-pandemic levels, toll paying solo drivers comprised an increased majority of transactions in the Express Lanes.
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06/30/2021
The COVID-19 pandemic led to reduced traffic volumes across the region and state beginning in mid-March 2020 and continuing throughout the year. With many employers shifting to work-from-home policies, there were notable reductions in rush hour traffic on Northern Virginia highways to include reductions in carpooling, mass transit ridership, and solo driving. Lower traffic volumes resulted in lower toll rates, especially during morning commutes. Volumes, tolls, and carpool rates increased slowly in the second half of 2020 but remained well below pre-pandemic levels.
I-66 Eastbound Widening Project construction continued during 2020, with an additional travel lane opening on December 11 on I-66 East between the Dulles Connector Road and Exit 71 (Glebe Road/Fairfax Drive).
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05/18/2020
The I-66 Express Lanes had reductions in average tolls and in usage in the fourth quarter of 2019 (Oct. – Dec.) compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
- Daily trips during morning commutes were down 7.6% – from 14,745 to 13,618.
- Daily trips during afternoon commutes were down 8.5% – from 17,793 to 16,282.
- Carpools traveling free (HOV) dropped 3.4% – from 14,229 to 13,329 per day. Due to drops in average daily traffic, carpools increased as a share of vehicles using the roadway – from 43.7% to 44.8%
- Compared with the third quarter of 2018, average price for trips decreased by 3.9% during morning commutes (from $7.70 to $7.40) and increased by 0.5% during evening commutes (from $4.38 to $4.40).
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01/17/2020
The I-66 Express Lanes had slight increases in average tolls and reductions in usage in the third quarter of 2019 (July – Sept.) compared to the third quarter of 2018.
- Daily trips during morning commutes were down 9.2% – from 15,097 to 13,707.
- Daily trips during afternoon commutes were down 3.9% – from 18,013 to 17,314.
- Carpools traveling free (HOV) dropped 3.4% -- from 13,790 to 13,327 per day. Due to drops in average daily traffic, carpools increased as a share of vehicles using the roadway – from 41.7% to 43.0%
- Compared with the third quarter of 2018, average price for trips increased by 4.5% during morning commutes (from $7.14 to $7.46) and by 7.7% during evening commutes (from $4.31 to $4.64).
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11/18/2019
The I-66 Express Lanes moved more people and more vehicles at a lower average toll in the second quarter of 2019 (April – June) compared to the second quarter of 2018.
- Daily trips during morning commutes were up 1.6% – from 15,068 to 15,309.
- Daily trips during afternoon commutes were up 3.7% – from 17,876 to 18,533.
- Carpools traveling free (HOV) increased by more than 250 per day (up 1.8%) – from 14,349 to 14,601.
- Average price during morning commutes dropped 7.1% – from $8.83 to $8.20.
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08/06/2019
- The I-66 Express Lanes moved more people and more vehicles at a lower average toll in the first quarter of 2019 (January – March) compared to the first quarter of 2018.
- Daily trips during morning commutes were up 11.1% – from 13,511 to 15,014.
- Daily trips during afternoon commutes were up 8.6% – from 16,140 to 17,533.
- Carpools traveling free (HOV) increased by more than 1,300 per day (up 10.4%) – from 12,946 to 14,290.
- Average price during morning commutes dropped 23.6% – from $8.31 to $6.35.
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12/11/2018
FAIRFAX – Virginia State Police (VSP) will conduct a focused High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) enforcement on Interstate 66 inside the Beltway Thursday, Dec. 13, during morning and afternoon rush hour periods.
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11/29/2018
Virginia State Police (VSP) will conduct a focused High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) enforcement on Interstate 66 inside the Beltway tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 30 during morning and afternoon rush hour periods. This effort is intended to bring HOV violators into compliance.
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09/21/2018
- Morning and afternoon commutes were faster on average and travel times generally more reliable compared to Aug 2017.
- Travel speeds on I-66 averaged 56.2 miles per hour (mph) during morning commutes compared to 52.7 mph.
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09/04/2018
- Morning and afternoon commutes were faster on average and travel times more reliable compared to July 2017.
- Travel speeds on I-66 averaged 56.3 miles per hour (mph) during morning commutes compared to 48.0 mph.
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08/09/2018
- Morning and afternoon commutes were faster on average and travel times more reliable compared to June 2017.
- Travel speeds on I-66 averaged 54.6 miles per hour (mph) during morning commutes compared to 48.0 mph.
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07/06/2018
Presented to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), July 5, 2018
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07/06/2018
- Morning and afternoon commutes were faster on average and travel times more reliable compared to May 2017.
- Travel speeds on I-66 averaged 53.0 miles per hour (mph) during morning commutes compared to 48.9 mph.
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05/30/2018
- Morning and afternoon commutes were faster on average and travel times more reliable compared to April 2017.
- Travel speeds on I-66 averaged 51.3 miles per hour (mph) during morning commutes compared to 46.7 mph.
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05/01/2018
Tolls during rush hours on the I-66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway began in December. By June, we will have six months of experience. We have always said that our goal is to move the most people possible through the I-66 corridor.
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04/30/2018
- Morning and afternoon commutes continued to be faster and travel times more reliable.
- Travel speeds on I-66 averaged 53.2 miles per hour (mph) during morning commutes compared to 43.6 mph in March 2017.
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03/27/2018
- Morning and afternoon commutes continued to be faster and travel times more reliable.
- Travel speeds on I-66 averaged 52.4 miles per hour (mph) during morning commutes compared to 45.7 mph in February 2017.
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02/20/2018
- Morning and afternoon commutes continued to be faster and travel times more reliable.
- Travel speeds on I-66 averaged 54.1 miles per hour (mph) during morning commutes compared to 42.3 mph in January 2017.
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12/12/2017
FAIRFAX - Morning and afternoon commutes were faster and travel times more reliable during the first four days of I-66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway operations, according to data released today by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
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12/07/2017 66 Express
FAIRAX - After nearly four full days of Express Lanes on I-66 Inside the Beltway being underway, the Virginia Department of Transportation reports that morning and afternoon commutes on Monday, Dec. 4, were faster than the same time last December. The average round-trip toll price during peak hours was $14.50, with the average morning toll during peak hours of $10.70 and average afternoon toll during the peak hours of $3.80. This toll rate during peak hours is lower than the estimated average toll rate of $17.00 during peak hours discussed in 2015.
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12/04/2017
FAIRFAX - (4 p.m.) The new 66 Express Lanes inside the Beltway opened to traffic for the first time today, 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. from I-495 to U.S. Route 29 in Rosslyn. During the four-hour period, about 11,000 vehicles passed through the Dulles Connector Road merge to the eastbound 66 Express Lanes, which is the most heavily traveled point on the lanes.
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12/01/2017
FAIRFAX – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Virginia E-ZPass are teaming up this weekend to help drivers get an E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex ahead of the launch of I-66 Inside the Beltway Express Lanes on Monday, December 4, 2017. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight, drivers can obtain an E-ZPass at the VDOT Northern Virginia District Building, located at 4975 Alliance Dr., Fairfax, Va 22030. Full E-ZPass services will be available.
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