Community Corner

Frank Wolf Pushes for Changes to Greenway Pricing Structure

VDOT says group appointed to make Greenway more commuter friendly will not address pricing

Representative Frank Wolf (R-10) said he is frustrated that a group recently appointed to make the Dulles Greenway more commuter friendly will not be addressing pricing.

Wolf sent a letter to Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton and said he is disappointed that the Virginia Department of Transportation isn’t going to allow the group to discuss Dulles Greenway toll rates, or distance-based pricing.

The group was appointed at Wolf’s request. He intended for the group to talk about toll structure, and to get more signage to inform drivers of the cost of the Greenway.  He said he is disappointed that no local elected officials or members of the Virginia General Assembly were appointed to the group.

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"It was my hope that this committee would be a way for commuters to sit face-to-face with the elected officials who exercise authority over the state law that encompasses the current agreement and know that their concerns about the toll structure would be heard," Wolf said in a press release. "Sadly, this will be impossible under the structure outlined at the initial meeting."

Wolf said the New Jersey Turnpike and Indiana Toll Road are examples of public and private roads that use distance-based pricing. “At the very least, the Greenway should be required to do a study on distance-based pricing,” wrote Wolf.

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The full text of Wolf’s letter to Sean Connaughton is below:

*   *   *

Dear Sean:

Two members of my staff participated last week in the first meeting of the advisory committee you authorized to study ways to make the Dulles Greenway more user friendly. I was disappointed to learn that, despite my repeated requests to study the toll structure and the state law permitting the public-private partnership allowing an Australian parent company to own the Greenway, the committee was told that discussion of these issues was categorically forbidden by VDOT.

I appreciate the difficulties you and Governor McDonnell's administration face. As the State Corporation Commission stated when it approved the most recent toll increase application for the Greenway, "The Commonwealth made a series of policy decisions that leave us little choice but to make the decision we make in this case." Nevertheless, I believe we all have a duty to correct a wrong when one is clearly identified. The current agreement with the Greenway is neither balanced nor fair, save for Toll Road Investors Partnership II's bottom line. I want to work with you and the governor in amending the Greenway agreement to provide greater protection for the users of the road.

You are well aware of my concerns about the Greenway. My letters dated July 26, 2010, and February 18, 2011, (enclosed) clearly explain what I believe must be done to protect commuters from the increasingly exorbitant tolls on the Greenway. While I was encouraged that you agreed to set up a task force to examine the Greenway and eventually include citizen representatives, I am disappointed that the parameters not only disallow a process for examining the toll structure, but that you also declined to include local elected officials.

It was my hope that this committee would be a way for commuters to sit face-to-face with the elected officials who exercise authority over the state law that encompasses the current agreement and know that their concerns about the toll structure would be heard. Sadly, this will be impossible under the structure outlined at the initial meeting. While I appreciate the fact that VDOT will work with the Greenway owners to improve signage, the committee structure appears to be a fig leaf.

Enclosed is the letter recently sent to you by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, which asks that the committee examine distance pricing, and include local and state elected officials as members, among other items. I fully support the county's request. There is clearly support from the local and federal officials representing Greenway users.

At the very least, the Greenway should be required to do a study on distance-based pricing. Public roads, such as the New Jersey Turnpike, and private roads, such as the Indiana Toll Road, use distance-based pricing. I was disappointed earlier this year when I read in the enclosed Ashburn Patch article that TRIP II declined to even perform such a study. According to the article, TRIP II CEO Tom Sines said, "We didn't do a full-blown study. There is a risk in that this would not increase revenue and the company would be out $6.5 million that I would have to explain to the bond holders. It's just a gamble." While new equipment to implement distance-based pricing might cost $6.5 million, a feasibility study most surely would cost much less. Yet, the Greenway owners steadfastly refuse to even do a study.

It is also distressing in the extreme to see former Virginia Secretary of Transportation Whitt Clement lobbying on behalf of the Greenway. It is my understanding that he is regularly seen at the State Capitol and at Commonwealth Transportation Board meetings. This relationship troubles me. Here is a person whose job was to help our region with transportation issues now working against our interests as a paid lobbyist for a foreign company to keep tolls high on northern Virginia residents. Is there any wonder that people don't trust government?

While I sincerely appreciate your willingness to examine signage and include citizen representatives, I implore you once more to address this problem in a decisive way. I can assure you that I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that this important issue is successfully resolved.

Best wishes.

Frank Wolf
Member of Congress


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