Greenway Toll Increase Update

Press Release...

RICHMOND - A State Corporation Commission (SCC) hearing examiner recommends the approval of a revised toll structure for the privately owned Dulles Greenway that raises the maximum toll ceiling for cars from $2 to $3. To lessen the impact on the traveling public, the proposed toll ceiling would be phased in over a three-year period. The actual tolls charged may not exceed that ceiling, but may be set at levels below it based on market conditions.

On May 30, 2003, Toll Road Investors Partnership II, L.P. (TRIP II), the owner and operator of the Dulles Greenway, filed an application with the SCC to raise the $2 toll ceiling, authorized since 1996. Currently, the maximum charge for cars using the 14-mile highway between Washington Dulles International Airport and Leesburg is $1.90.

TRIP II stated that additional revenues were needed to meet debt service obligations, complete capital improvements required by expanding traffic levels, and ensure the financial stability of the company. TRIP II's audited financial statements indicated that it has experienced losses for every year since 1993 when roadway construction began. The Dulles Greenway opened to traffic in 1995.

The Commission received over 700 public comments in the case, the overwhelming majority stating that the proposed increase would adversely affect their use of the roadway. Many argued the tolls were already too high. Others urged the SCC to approve a phased approach to the increase or to adopt distance-based pricing.

SCC staff reviewed TRIP II's application and concluded that there probably was a need to raise tolls moderately over time considering current traffic levels, revenues, existing debt levels and the company's financial condition.

In her final report, SCC Chief Hearing Examiner Deborah V. Ellenberg recommends the increased toll ceiling be phased in over three years to assure the public that tolls will not immediately jump to $3. Under the hearing examiner's proposed schedule, the company would have the flexibility to adjust tolls at or below the ceiling as the market dictates:

* a maximum ceiling of $2.40, effective when the SCC issues a final order in the case,
* a maximum ceiling of $2.70 effective December 31, 2005,
* a maximum ceiling of $3 effective July 1, 2007.

Ellenberg recommends TRIP II conduct three studies and report the results to the SCC staff. The first study would collect data and analyze time-of-day or congestion pricing. In the second study, the company would investigate distance pricing for the toll road including roadway design changes and the costs necessary to implement such pricing. The company also would be directed to study the rate design for truck traffic.

After consideration of the hearing examiner's report and the case record, the SCC Commissioners will issue a final order in the case that may accept, modify or reject the examiner's recommendations.

 

If they do this, they will lose my business. This is ridiculous. It's a short stretch of road, and it is getting more expensive than the turnpikes up north.

 

I did a few searches to see how many cars are on the greenway/tollroad now.

The Loudoun Times reported in 12/09/2003 that "Greenway ridership has increased from 8,000 weekday vehicles per day in 1995 to 65,000 today. A $3 toll per trip would put the Greenway at 21.4 cents per mile, the highest in the state.".

A blurb on dullescorridorrail.com states that "Sections of the Dulles Toll Road and Route 28 already exceed daily vehicle projections made in 1990 for 2010." Doesn't say how many, but I would guess 100,000. Traffic has seriously grown since last year in my commute.

So what would the average car be paying per day on the toll road? 5 bucks? Just how are these guys running the toll road *losing* money? At the race track?

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Got Broadband?

 

This is another example of our local elected officials' impotency regarding issues affecting us in Loudoun that are being decided by Richmond. They are trying, and local public opinion is trying, but no one down there listens to anyone except those that have the most money at stake. The only thing to do now is to bombard the SCC commissioners with e-mail to have them implement distance pricing and reject congestion (rush hour) pricing. If big money, big business and Richmond "officials" win out again over public and local political opinion, then we're all screwed.

 

Scott York just sent out an email:

Scott York has been on our side for a long time. Just scan through our last topic of proposed toll increase on the Greenway.

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Got Broadband?

 

Being on our side and being effective in voicing his/our opinion to the decision-makers are two entirely different things.

 

I do not blame York, and I believe he has been as effective as he possibly can... particularly when Loudoun County's short-sighted voters just removed all of his "smarter growth" allies from the County Board. It is also not helpful when Virginia's system of government, as compared to many other states, places an unusual amount of authority over local matters into the state government's hands. (For my fellow lawyers out there, recall "Dylan's Rule"?) This is seen time and time again when Richmond ignores the infrastructure needs and related fiscal realties facing this region.

 

His "smarter growth" allies were anything but. I did mention he's (York) trying (Wow, he sends out e-mails). And I did mention that it really doesn't matter....Richmond isn't listening to us anyway, it seems. Don't want to hijack the thread, so don't get me started on the old board. Downzoning really makes buying a home here affordable, doesn't it? Wait a minute.......maybe they were on to something after all. If no one can afford a home here, that'll stop the growth, won't it? Rant over, thank you.

 

Well, this is the reason I see more and more people running the toll gates. Sure, those people have the choice to use another road but has anyone tried to use Rt7 or Rt28 lately? Too bad our crazy real estate or personal property taxes don't help pay for our use on this road.

Just my $.02....

Thanks,

Steven

 

uh, there's been a rate increase, we need your $.05 now....

 

Actually, downzoning would have helped because part of the zoning initiative is to add affordable housing, that is, housing that starts at a price a teacher could afford. The board is not the reason the prices keep going up, check out the new developments and see what the developers are starting their prices at.

When I purchased here in 1998, my base model VM Winterset home was 250,000, just six months later it was at 298,000 !! I don't believe you can buy it new for less than 398,000 ... I take that back, in the Stone Ridge development, you can start with a Winterset (which is the smallest for 500K !!




Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Looks like we need to head to the side roads...

DULLES (AP) - The price of tolls could see an immediate increase on the privately-owned Dulles Greenway.
Virginia officials have approved plans to raise car tolls on the highway between Dulles Airport and Leesburg to as much as $2.40. That's a 26 percent increase over the current maximum charge of $1.90.

The State Corporation Commission also says tolls can be increased to $3 over the next three years.

The owners of the 14-mile road say the fare increase is needed to help pay off debt.

Loudoun County supervisors have said a toll increase will discourage ridership.

 

Why can't the owners of the Greenway find a way to refinance their debt instead of throwing their debt onto our backs. I find it hard to believe these "investors" really have a clue about how to make this "venture" of theirs profitable. Every extra dime they make from raising the toll will be lost twofold or more by people who will find alternate means to get from A to B.

 

It's offical, greenway Toll is going up. Here is the article: http://www.timescommunity.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=12264412&BRD=2553&PAG=461&dept_id=506035&rfi=6

 

I think its time to institute a boycott ...

 

and elect someone else to represent us a little better in Richmond

 

I love it, taxes-taxes everywhere and not a damn dime to fund some kind of rail system or commuter system. Instead, because of the piss poor spending of our local and state governments, a privately owned road was allowed to be built, which has the highest toll rate in VA.

Several years later, they are still complaining of debt, which we now all have the pleasure of paying higher rates so we can bail this company out.

I drive maybe three miles of the ten-mile Greenway but pay the same as someone coming from Leesburg. Sure, sure, I could take Rt28 or Rt7 to work but I refer to the above statement of piss poor management of spending and the lack of foresight into the growth at which this area has experienced that has contributed to the lack of infrastructure of our roadways. Commuting on any other road but the toll road is a life endangering and miserable at best.

Folks, it should be a 50/50 split between government and the private company which we should be mad at, our local and state governments whom have done nothing to lend a hand to the public in using our tax revenue more wisely is partial to blame. As soon as the toll increase application was submitted, the SCC had received hundreds of negativity feedback , yet they went ahead and approved it anyway. This feedback was from folks whom actually paid attention to what was going on, I feel sorry for those that will get hit with the increase unexpectedly and without recourse.

My fingers hurt… and my wallet.

Regards,

Steven

(P.S., Sorry in advance for any grammar or spelling errors. I’m typing with four stitches in my finger. :~)

 

I aggree with you Steven, but to be honoest, our deligation in Richmond is at best weak. As resident of Loudon county and northern Virginia, we pay a lions share of the taxes for the state, and recive little in return. It's time we started holding our representive a little more responsible.

Maybe we should have our local representaive meet with all the residents of the Broadlands at the Nature center.

 

It's bad, real bad. And the wonderful folks at the SCC are also the ones who will approve the lovely deforestation on the W&OD trail that Dominion Power wants. Why b/c the SCC could care less about NoVA b/c it is NoVA. The rest of VA hates NoVA. We are on our own until we get enough population to own majority in both State houses.

As for the toll Road. It currently generates $123,500.00 / day. It may have been in debt when traffic was low but when would they have started making a profit if rates remained unchanged? I find it hard to believe that $45 mil / yr would not eventually make a profit. Their problem is that it isn't soon enough. But since when is it the State's business to fix it so a private corporation makes money? If it is, Hey! I'm losing money b/c of all the taxes and tolls I pay! The state better bail me out.... Also, Once the toll road does start making a profit will they reduce the toll? Not likely!

I'm boycotting the toll road. In 2031 when it switches over to the state maybe I'll use it.

 

Here is the contact information for the SCC person responsible for this travesty.

Contact: Andy Farmer
(804) 371-9141; afarmer@scc.state.va.us

I sent him a howler. I suggest everyone do the same.

Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Boycott!

The email York sent out just now is laughable. This county's government is corrupt at the worst and incompetent at best. The only way we can payback the TRIP II is to boycott and get them bad publicity until they put in distance based pricing. The SCC did not even require studies to be done! Fey! How is that in the publics interest? I AM SO ANGRY! ARGH!