Proposals for distance-based pricing along the Dulles Greenway abounded in the past week, as both houses of the General Assembly heard from Loudoun County politicians.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, meanwhile, are making a pitch for the Virginia Department of Transportation to take an official study on distance-based pricing.
In the house
Freshman Del. David Ramadan (R-87th) has proposed legislation to reduce tolls along the Dulles Greenway.
According to press release from Ramadan’s office, HB 1246 would “authorize the Greenway operator to lease outdoor advertising space on its property with the aim of implementing distance pricing and lowering commuter fees.”
“For too long, Dulles Greenway commuters, including many of my constituents, have been paying tolls that are unfair and too high for the relatively short stretch of road they travel,” Ramadan said, adding that it’s unfair because sometimes they travel just a short distance on the Greenway.
Ramadan expressed his proposal doesn’t rely on state funding or a tax increase.
A pitch in the state Senate
Sen. Dick Black (R-13th) has introduced Senate Bill 316 which would require the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to start distance-based pricing on the Dulles Greenway before tolls increase. According to a press release, Black says this legislation seeks to provide consumer protections to users of the Greenway.
“Users of the Greenway have been hit hard by rising tolls,” Black said in a statement. “Currently, drivers who drive two miles pay the same as those who drive ten miles on the Greenway. My bill would bring fairness back to drivers who rely on the Greenway to get to and from work. The current law governing the Greenway is neither balanced or fair and it leads to gridlock on other Loudoun roads.”
The bill, which is awaiting vote in the Commerce and Labor Committee, would require the SCC, if it grants a toll increase for the use of the Greenway, to vary the amount of the toll in accordance with vehicle miles traveled.
The bill would also require the SCC to hold a public hearing in Loudoun County before granting a toll increase.
“It is unreasonable to ask drivers to pay the full toll regardless of how far they drive on the Greenway. This legislative session, I hope to change that.” Black said.
Tom Sines, Dulles Greenway CEO, says his organization has no stance on the matter until a study is done on the distancing pricing.
“The first step is a study to determine whether distant-based pricing will raise the revenue to meet the bond requirements,” Sines said.
U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10th) endorsed Black’s legislation, saying he was pleased with the proposed bill.
“Current law allows the Greenway to operate with near impunity,” Wolf said in a letter. “I am extremely pleased that you have introduced legislation mandating distance-based pricing. The changes in your bill will allow the SCC to focus on protecting consumers and not the bottom line of a foreign-owned company.”
A request by Loudoun County
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is calling on VDOT to conduct a study to explore the feasibility and legality of distance-pricing tolling along the Dulles Greenway.
A resolution unanimously adopted by the Board also asks the Virginia General Assembly to review the enabling authority which created the Dulles Greenway, including any authority for changing the way tolls are charged on the road, and also to consider placing a cap on the overall toll rate structure.
While the resolution “acknowledges the benefits the Dulles Greenway, and its operator Trip II, have provided” to Loudoun’s residents and businesses, the resolution also expresses “deep concern as to the rising cost” of using the toll road, adding that the “Dulles Greenway tolls continue to escalate at ever-increasing rates which has led to increased traffic congestion on alternate roadways and may negatively impact the prospects for long-term economic growth within Loudoun County.”
In addition to the resolution, the Board approved a draft letter from Chairman Scott York (R-At Large) to VDOT requesting the feasibility study of distance-based pricing of tolls on the Greenway.
Hey “typical Republicans”, you said “I dont want anyone interfering with free commerce”. The Greenway is a government granted MONOPOLY. Would you remove regulations from other such monopolies? No price limit of any kind to natual gas, electricity, water, sewer, etc. connected to your house?
Dear Rancid R: I e-mailed this idea to several supervisors and so far Susan Volpe said she would look into the idea and would broach the subject with planning and zoning. A first step to be sure how about you sending your idea to Mr. Ramadan and posting the likes of here for all to see. I do agree about the study who’s paying for it. Seems like everytime there’s a problem we have to have a new study. How about elected officals doing some homework then doing their job which is to solve problems, is it not?
Senator Black keep up the good fight in Richmond! I like the idea and appreciate your work!
So this is where all the Democrats go after they’ve been swept out of office…oh, I was wondering where you were!
Sgt Friday - LOVE LOVE LOVE your comments. Those political signs stay up forever and are the ugliest sights to see while driving. Tax those and fine them for keeping them up too long!
Oh boy, billboards along the Greenway…I won’t see them, I refuse to drive on that road and pay that fee. Many, many years ago, I could spend a dollar and go from 28 to Leesburg where I worked. I am sure they made plenty of money…problem is, they got greedy…
The Greenway was built, because our state government was too cheap to build it. All our tax dollars go to Richmond, and they trickle back a nickle at at time. It’s time to secede from Southern Virginia ! We shall call this 51st state “Ramadanland”, after the great South Ridingite who somehow managed to get elected. Runner-up names: Munseyville, NeoConia, Lemmingland, Billboardia. We shall erect billboards every 1/4 mile proclaiming this.
Do you really think the gang of politicians that just banned the volunteers from collecting illegal signs will do anything like that? Of course not! Ramadan himself would have to stop giving them money because it would cost him a fortune. No, we just get more more and more signs.
Should we get together and put a surcharge per political campaign sign. Pass a ordinance that all political signs anywhere are to be taken down within 2 weeks after elections. Put a bond on political signs of $2.50 each. Campaign buys 100 signs for example they would need a bond of $250.00 say 75% refundable if you turn in all 100 signs. The 25% percent would pay for the 80 volunteers that were just let go to count the signs.Every sign you are short comes out of the bond at $2.50 a sign
Widen Rt 606 BEFORE putting in the Metro stop. That road is already a northbound parade in the morning and a southbound parade in the evening.
It’ll be a two-way parking lot after the Metro arrives.
The greenway was built—brilliantly—privately because no one else wanted to pay to build a road. So NOW that is what we have. The owners (who are raking in the bucks) should be able to charge what they want. Period. I dont want anyone interfering with free commerce- even though I dont like that (I think) a foreign co owns it. If the GOVT controls pricing—then we lose our freedom.
The Greenway is like a uterus. We must regulate it.
It’s private property. Don’t like it? Build your own road.
Nokes….iPad sucks
Rather than resorting to name-calling and opponent bashing lets discuss this intelligently. The alternatives to the toll road are in fact scarce. This is due to lagging infrastructure….but if I am not mistaken the county has agreed not to build roads that would compete with the toll road….for brambleton residents it would be great if there was a cut through to rt 28 just over the greed way that would connect near the post office distro center and let folks cut over to old ox….guess what that would do for those drivers using waxpool? And also if we could just connect jokes and Gloucester there would be virtually no southbound traffic on loco pkwy to waxpool at rush hour. Further if one Loudoun/miller and smith would finish loco pkwy plenty of folks could take that to 50 which will be three lanes all the way in a few years
The tolls were set to make this project move forward. The Greenway is what it costs. Don’t like it don’t use it. More so what about all of the Airport people not paying tolls. Ask Frank Wolf why the Airport Authority works behind closed doors? Same corrider wants our tax money but pratices descrimantion when it comes to who pays. The Airport Authority needs to pay also. This will benifit them. The Greenway will always be expensive. It was an expensive project. Don’t like the fees there are plenty of public roads to get you where you need to be. Don’t pay the fees. You vote with your dollar everyday. Stop paying the Grrenway toll road. The Route 267 section however from the Airport to Tysons Corner not everyone pays. We need to stop that and add tolls to all lanes. If the state needed more taxes then they should have asked for it. The whole idea of paying taxes is to handle the everyday peoples transportation needs. I paid my taxes once and now they come up with a system to get daily taxes from you for services you already paid for. Tax the Poor to Feed the Rich.
Who is supposed to pay for these studies? The taxpayer or the Greenway?
Hey JJ, I want my gas and Big Mac capped too, and I think the fair price is $.25. Let’s get Frank Wolf to sponsor a bill on that, huh. Cause that’s what you are saying - a private company can’t charge what they want for their product, so let’s make a law setting the price. I’m a frikkin bleeding heart Democrat, but even I know that smacks of Communist doctrine. Why don’t you nutt-up, drive Waxpool, or pay the fee to use the private road.
OOooh, the world isn’t fair, save me Ramadan, regulate it.
It’s only fair if they get to put up billboards, according to Ramadan.
I agree with the distance based pricing. There are about 8 exits on the Greenway, price them $1 each.
So if you are going west bound and only go one exit $1, if you go all the way to Leesburg $8.
Complaining about Greenway noise while living near the Greenway is like complaining about aircraft noise while living near the airport.
When I bought my home, I had to sign all sorts of documents acknowledging aircraft noise, the fact that not every car can fit in the garage, the fact that wood can have knots. etc.
I’m sure these people signed waivers acknowledging their proximity to the Greenway when they bought their homes.
Sheesh! Where’s the personal accountability these days? The Democratic Party has brainwashed everyone into believing that it’s okay to blame others for their mistakes.
They have the problem of the wording of the original contract between the state and the Greenway owners. If the state mandates a fair cap or decrease in violation of the contract the Greenway will sue and win. That means they get your tax dollars.
If the use on the Greenway increases, they need to start exploring the noise blockers that they have been putting up on the Toll Road. No doubt the Greenway costs too much but if the prices go down it will be more travelled and the Greenway is VERY VERY close to a lot of homes in Ashburn and Leesburg.
My prediction - the LCRC will get a special free permanent billboard if Ramadan gets his way!
While I’m all for having drivers pay less on the Greenway for driving shorter distances, I’m concerned that the bigger point of the issue is lost in these two bills. The toll on the Greenway is too high no matter how much of the road you use. It would be great if a capped price could be added to the bills.
I’m shocked that a REPUBLICAN controlled government body would be trying to regulate a free-market, tax-paying, job-providing business….
Isn’t their mantra less regulation is good for evryone?
Ramadan’s good friends at The Casey Group - who helped him get elected - just happen to represent The Greedway as well. No wonder he’s doing their bidding.
FYI - the original owners of the Greenway promised distance based tolls during a public meeting in 1996(?)held in the Town of Leesburg council’s chambers.
Big problem with Ramadan’s proposal. He’s asking for signs so that the Greedway owners can get more revenue but doesn’t legislate a damn think in return that will guarantee it will lower tolls.
This is a ruse making it sound like he’s trying to lower tolls.
Put some meat on that bill, otherwise it’s nothing but roadspam with out the benefits.
Dick Black is the best!!!
I never thought I would say this, but:
Dick Black > David Ramadan
The road will also be renamed to the “Dulles Signway”.
What a surprise - David Ramadan, king of the illegal signs, wants to let The Greenway put up billboard signs. More trashing of our county. I can’t wait until 2013 to vote this bozo OUT.
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