Dulles Greenway's Drive For Charity Set for May 16

Your tolls on that day benefit local organizations as part of an annual community drive.

Thursday's the day that paying tolls on the Dulles Greenway will have special meaning for local charities. Event organizers are gearing up for the 8th annual Drive For Charity, a one-day event that raises thousands of dollars that go directly back into the local community. “Each year, the money raised has increased, and last year’s event raised $261,000, divided among five local charities: The March of Dimes, Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, Every Citizen Has Opportunity (ECHO), Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Fresh Air/Full Care,” said Terry Hoffman, spokesman for the Dulles Greenway. “Regardless of what you think of the Greenway or if you do not usually drive on it, drive it May 16 to help these organizations.” In addition, Hoffman …

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Greenway Toll Hearings Set for June

State law enabled Del. Ramadan to request hearings on private operator’s toll rates.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) addition of a hearing in Sterling has increased the opportunities Loudoun residents and businesses have to weigh in on tolls charged by the Dulles Greenway. The hearings are part of an investigation Del. David Ramadan (R-87) requested into the toll rates charged by Greenway operator Toll Road Investors Partnership II, an entity of Australia-based Macquarie Group. The Dulles Greenway is the 14-mile private toll road that extends the Dulles Toll Road from Dulles International Airport to Leesburg. Current rates are $4.10 during regular hours and $4.90 during rush hour at the main toll plaza. Hearing information: Thursday, June 6 (two sessions: 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.) Park View High School, …

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Nicole J

3:28 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013

I will be there. This is ridiculous.   more ›

WTOP: Virginia Might Buy Greenway

Del. May says negotiations underway for road with high tolls, long called 'highway robbery' by some.

WTOP is reporting Virginia is in negotiations to buy the Dulles Greenway from current owner Toll Road Investors Partnership, a subsidiary of Australia-based Macquarie Group. The news outlet reported Del. Joe T. May (R-33), who represents western Loudoun, confirmed such negotiations were underway. Let us know what you think in the comments below. Should the state buy the Greenway? TRIP was originally designed as a privately operated toll road by a local family, but the family sold it after it failed to turn a profit. State law was created to permit a 50-year concession of the road, after which it would revert back to the state. The law, however, permits the operator to make a profit, which has resulted in main gate tolls near $5 at rush …

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Letter to the Editor

LTE: Ramadan Complaint Targets Wrong Tolls

A reader suggests that Ramadan focus on reducing DTR, rather than Greenway, fees.

Dear Editor,  Del. David Ramadan (R-87) has announced that he is making a formal complaint against the proposed Dulles Greenway toll increase. Del. Ramadan is barking up the wrong tree if he is genuinely interested in securing relief from oppressive tolls … and he knows it. Responding to a Greenway toll increase request, Del. Ramadan demanded Greenway rates comply with Virginia code. FACT … Recently, the Greenway – the privately operated road west of Dulles International Airport – requested a 3.54 percent increase in the toll rate, or $0.14, which they are allowed by law. This 3.54 percent is what Del. Ramadan is complaining about. FACT … Over the next 13 months, Dulles Toll Road (DTR) rates are set to increase 55 percent to pay for the …

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Letter to the Editor

Chamber: Blame State for Metro Toll Hikes

Loudoun Chamber president Tony Howard makes the case for additional state transportation funding and cooperation in the General Assembly.

Last month, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority held several public hearings to gather public input on the proposal to raise tolls on the Dulles Toll Road to pay for Virginia‘s share of the Dulles Rail Project.  Though these toll hikes are planned to fund Virginia’s share of the project, MWAA was the one vilified by the opponents of this project. On Oct. 17, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors will stage a public hearing on the proposal to create two special tax districts in eastern Loudoun to pay for the County’s share of the project. No doubt the loyal opposition will again be out in force to oppose these tax districts and the completion of the Dulles Rail Project that is favored by 80 percent of Loudoun residents. But even …

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Bob Bruhns

6:42 pm on Sunday, October 7, 2012

I guess they know which side gets the butter. What's going on with the Loudoun County tax districts? The business people there better get on the stick and cap their tax contribution at the claimed $270 million, 1) Before tens of thousands of toll road refugees divert to the side roads, causing traffic jams the like of which we have never seen, and county leaders get Tifia loans (that have to be …   more ›

Greenway Distance Pricing Remains Long Shot

Chairman York offers an alternative proposed to studying toll changes: ‘condemn it.’

As the Loudoun Board of Supervisors ponders whether to press state legislators to continue to fight for a study of distance pricing on the Dulles Greenway, the proposal seems to be going nowhere fast. As Patch previously reported, no wants to pay what could be a high cost to study distance pricing — which would mean users would not have to pay the full toll regardless of their entry and exit points as is currently the case. Tom Sines, a Dulles Greenway representative, said it’s a risky endeavor for Greenway owners Macquarie Group. The equipment alone would cost $6.5 million, Sines said last year, and if the higher revenues are not generated Macquarie could stand to lose money on an asset intended to provide a profit. On Wednesday, County …

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Wolf to Cuccinelli: Study Greeway Tolls

The congressman wants the Virginia attorney general to find ways to help commuters fight 'highway robbery.'

U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) has asked state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to examine the toll structure on the Dulles Greenway as it pertains to consumer protections. “I believe you have the ability to give these residents a way to fight what I call highway robbery,” Wolf wrote in a letter to Cuccinelli.  “If there were ever a group of consumers in need of protection, it is those who pay the Greenway tolls.” Wolf has been a longtime critic of TRIP II and its Australian-based parent company, Macquarie Group, which operates the Greenway under and agreement with the state. The original state law permitting the arrangement was flawed because it doesn’t protect consumers, Wolf said in a statement. “When I am in Loudoun County, the tolls on …

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Herring, Minchew Oppose E-ZPass Fee

VDOT has proposed a $1 monthly fee for administrative and operations costs.

A monthly $1 fee proposed by the Virginia Department of Transportation for E-ZPass transponders has proven to be an item that Democrats and Republicans representing Loudoun can agree on. State Sen. Mark Herring (D-33) and Del. Randy Minchew—who each represents parts of Loudoun and at least a small part of Ashburn—have issued messages to constituents urging them to weigh in the fee proposal by 5 p.m. today. The monthly fee would apply to each transponder held by customers. The messages from Herring and Minchew are included below: From Herring’s office: State Senator Mark Herring (D-Loudoun & Fairfax) has written to the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation Greg Whirley expressing his strong opposition to VDOT’s proposal …

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Tolls to Rise Jan. 1 on Greenway, Dulles Toll Road

Future increases on Toll Road require hearings, while Greenway's will be based on CPI.

Toll road drivers face increases on both the Dulles Greenway and the Dulles Toll Road Jan. 1. The Toll Road’s main plaza rate will increase by 25¢ to $1.50, while the rates at on/off ramps will remain 75¢. The Greenway rates will increase by 30¢ during regular hours and during rush hour to $4 and $4.80, respectively (Greenway drivers continuing on to the Toll Road pay an additional 75¢ to enter the that road; tolls for those drivers will amount to $4.75 and $5.55, respectively). For Ashburn commuters heading to Arlington or Washington, DC, via those roads, that means a double hit on daily travel expenses totaling about 55¢ per day. Throughout an entire year, that’s a fee increase in the range of $140. The steady toll increases drivers in …

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Bob Bruhns

9:48 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012

MWAA says that the Dulles Toll Road tolls can not be estimated after 2014 - but here is the DTR toll plan as it stands, for two-axle vehicles like passenger cars, one-way. (For bigger vehicles like 18-wheel trucks, the tolls are much higher.) (2012 $2.25) Jan. 2013 $2.75 Jan. 2014 $3.50 Jan. 2015 $4.50 Jan. 2018 $6.75 Jan. 2023 $8.75 Jan. 2028 $10.75 Jan. 2033 $12.75 Jan. 2038 $14.75 Jan. 2043 $…   more ›

MWAA Chooses Tunnel, Irking Leaders at All Levels

‘Ridiculous’ decision results in calls on airports authority board to cover additional costs.

With the cost of the planned Metro Silver Line’s second phase to Loudoun rising, yesterday’s decision by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Board of Directors to select a more costly subterranean rail station at Dulles Airport received a rapid round of criticism from local, state and federal officials. With the $2.7 billion Phase 1 expected at some point in 2013 to start carrying passengers between the existing East Falls Church station and the Wiehle Avenue station now under construction, Phase 2 looms and its costs have long come under fire. When complete, Phase 2 will extend the rail line beyond the airport to two stations in Loudoun — the planned Loudoun and Moorefield stations. Moorefield, the last station on the line, …

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