95 Express Lanes
This $925 million public-private partnership on Interstate 95 in the Commonwealth of Virginia opened to traffic in December 2014.
The project converted existing reversible high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on Interstate 95 in Northern Virginia to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes.
A third travel lane was added over the majority of the 29-mile express lanes facility to provide more capacity for carpool, vanpool and transit riders. For the first time, toll-paying vehicles with one or two passengers were permitted to access the lanes.
In addition to expanding the number of lanes, a two-lane extension was built over nine miles to the south, which relieved a bottleneck where the facility previously ended in Prince William County.
Commuters in the Fredericksburg area now have the option to access a HOT facility near the Garrisonville Road interchange in Stafford County, which is a major hub for slugging, a form of informal carpooling on the I-95 corridor. In 2018, a $50 million extension of express lanes carried the facility another two miles south, which reduced merging and weaving movements near Garrisonville Road.
Toll prices of the 95 Express Lanes adjust based on traffic volumes to manage demand and keep the lanes free-flowing at all times – providing drivers with more predictable trips.
The project encourages travelers to try ridesharing for a consistent commute time. Single- and double-occupancy users can bypass congestion when it matters most, whether it is catching a flight at the airport, attending a critical meeting or arriving home in time for an important event with family and friends.
Additional projects are underway and in development to extend the express lanes facility south on I-95. The express lanes option provides consistent and reliable travel for commuters to access major employment and business centers.
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