Government Eco-Action Monday: HOT vs. HOV

How Just One Letter Can Create Chaos

Arlington Lawsuit Demands Full Analysis of I-95/395 Project

When I read that Arlington County had filed suit earlier this week against the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Commonwealth of Virginia over the proposed High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes project for I-95/395, my first thought was “yes!” Here was tiny local government – Arlington is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the U.S. (with slightly less than 26 square miles) – standing up against big brother.

As I continued to read the press release, I became even more convinced of Arlington’s action. One of the most environmentally progressive counties in the DC metro area, Arlington claims that the FHWA and the Commonwealth failed to meet requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Air Act before FHWA approved a Categorical Exclusion for the project – basically allowing the HOT lanes project to proceed without the full environmental and public health analysis and public review required by federal law.

As Arlington officials assert, HOT lanes focus on moving individual cars (and the drivers willing to pay the toll) instead of moving the most people. So, the project would create more congestion, and thus lengthen travel times, in the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes as well (which would run next to the HOT lanes) – especially for buses. So, those who are already doing their part by utilizing buses would most likely see an increase in their commute time. Why should they be punished for doing the right thing?

In addition to affecting overall air quality in the region, the suit says, the project will especially impact the air quality of the communities situated along the project corridor –mostly those of low income and minority populations.

So who would benefit from such a HOT lane? Other than the state (whose additional toll “income” can be questioned when considering the financial cost of the project as well as the environmental and traffic costs), the project would primarily help more affluent commuters who drive alone and thus will have access to the HOV lanes previously off-limits.

However, it would further dis-incent these solo drivers from taking mass transit, knowing that they can just pay a toll instead – and maybe get where they’re going a bit sooner (or maybe not) that they would have in non-HOV lanes.

Although the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) had recently decided to delay the project’s implementation, the County sued to ensure the federally required analysis would be properly completed. While no one knows whether the state has a plan to fix the project’s problems, perhaps it should seriously consider ways of incenting drivers (via bus or train discounts) to utilize public transport instead of adding to the area’s congestion.

Photo Credit: Flickr CC User austrini