Skip to main content

Fix 66 group advocates for I-66 HOT Lanes

A new group called Fix 66 has been formed to advocate for a managed lanes and bus rapid transit system in the I-66 corridor, outside of the Capital Beltway, by maximising private sector investment and minimising potential impacts to its communities, businesses and commuters during construction. Anthony Bedell, a lifelong Fairfax County resident, local political leader and former official of the US Department of Labour and US Small Business Administration, says he is starting the Fix 66 group to give a vo
July 9, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
A new group called Fix 66 has been formed to advocate for a managed lanes and bus rapid transit system in the I-66 corridor, outside of the Capital Beltway, by maximising private sector investment and minimising potential impacts to its communities, businesses and commuters during construction.

Anthony Bedell, a lifelong Fairfax County resident, local political leader and former official of the US Department of Labour and US Small Business Administration, says he is starting the Fix 66 group to give a voice to those who want to see improvements moved forward in the fastest and smartest way.

While Bedell acknowledges Governor Terry McAuliffe and Virginia Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Lane commitment to improving travel in the I-66 corridor, he believes they are getting misguided advice in advancing a public financing option. Given the history of cost overruns and delayed completion of traditional VDOT projects, Bedell says the I-66 corridor can ill afford to count on VDOT to go it alone on this complicated and risky project.

“I-66 commuters are frustrated and small businesses are losing money due to the traffic gridlock and unpredictable commute times on the interstate highway,” stated Bedell. “The I-66 Corridor is in desperate need of transportation improvements and we need them now. People deserve to spend more time with their families and other normal activities rather than being stuck on I-66 for hours in their morning and evening commutes.”

Bedell went on to say that his group believes the best and quickest way to provide traffic relief is duplicating the success of the public-private partnership model for the I-95 and Capital Beltway projects.

“As a long-time Fairfax County resident, I’ve certainly been directly impacted by all of VDOT’s megaprojects. The projects with private investment tend to be more financially sound for taxpayers and deliver greater improvements in a shorter amount of time,” stated Bedell.  “Why change that course of action for I-66?”

Related Content

  • August 8, 2012
    Construction begins on $1 billion I-95 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia
    Surrounded by elected officials, transportation engineers, and dignitaries, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell held a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday to begin construction of the I-95 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia. The project will build 29 miles (46.7kms) of express lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Edsall Road in Fairfax County, and will connect the I-95 Express Lanes to the I-495 Express Lanes currently under construction to provide a seamless network of new lanes to reduce
  • December 11, 2012
    Open Roads collaborates with Virginia DOT on the 495 Express Lanes project
    Opened on 17 November, the fourteen-mile corridor of new high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in Northern Virginia from the Springfield Interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway provides drivers with a faster, more predictable trip on the Capital Beltway. The 495 Express Lanes project supported more than 16,000 jobs and generated nearly US$3.5 billion of economic impact state-wide. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) provider Open Roads Consulting (Open R
  • January 20, 2021
    Q&A: IBTTA president Mark Compton
    Mark Compton is CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) in Middletown, PA. IBTTA's Bill Cramer sat down with Mark to learn a bit more about his background and interests
  • February 15, 2013
    TransCore to design and build I-66 active traffic management system
    One of the most congested interstates in Virginia, US, is to get an Active Traffic Management (ATM) system. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has selected TransCore, a division of Roper Industries, to design and build its I-66 ATM system on northern Virginia’s main highway into the District of Columbia. The US$34 million contract is 90 percent federally funded and will support thirty-four miles of highway from the District of Columbia to Gainesville US-29 in Prince William County. The projec