In an article in the Purcellville Gazette Chuck Hedges,candidate for House of Delegates in the 33rd district expressed his support for huge toll increases inside the beltway on I-66.
Charging tolls inside the beltway during rush hour only (with exemptions for high-occupancy vehicles) is sensible and would result in an increase in Metro ridership on the Silver and Orange lines as well as revenue for road improvements. This proposal makes much more sense than Freshman Del. LaRock’s Bill HJ85 that called on the Metropolitan Washington Airport authority to impose and collect tolls on the Dulles Access Highway. The revenues would have to be used to subsidize the Australian firm that operates the Dulles Green Way. (This Bill never passed Committee.)
The bill Mr.Hedges is referring to would have tolled some free lanes going to Dulles from Washington DC and used the revenue to lower (DTR) Dulles Toll Road Tolls (owned by Virginia, run by MWAA). It had nothing to do with the Greenway which is privately owned. It seems Mr.Hedges is confusing the Greenway with the Dulles Toll Road.
Mr.Hedges is in favor of the Governor’s plan to charge people coming from Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties an extra $17 a day (on top of the $17 they already pay if they’re coming from Loudoun). The money will not go to roads but will go to the endless money-pit that is the Metro system. The money will also be used to install bike lanes for Arlington residents. How nice. Perhaps Loudoun commuters should also provide them with picnic baskets for their bikes.
Why should Loudoun commuters pay for bike lanes in Arlington and the decrepit metro system which they don’t use because it’s terrible and costly?! It’s an outrageous idea.
Why is Mr.Hedges so happy to take money from his Loudoun constituents and give it to Arlington County? Please remember to ask him that when you see him at the polls on November 3rd.
