Maryland Value Pricing

The steering committee for Maryland’s Value Pricing program has ruled out any detailed evaluation of add-a-lane/convert-a-lane on the Washington Beltway (I-495/I-95). Detailed study will proceed on proposals for a 4/1/1/4 configuration for managed HOT lanes in the center with the existing 2x4 free lanes to be left as they are. On a citizens advisory panel to the Maryland DOT Michael Replogle, transp director at Environmental Defense and your editor found themselves in agreement recently, each supporting detailed evaluation of a

3/2/2/3 configuration of the Beltway, the center four HOT lanes to be comprised, each side of the median, of a new lane plus a converted general purpose lane. Pairs of lanes have more than double the capacity of single managed lanes, and offer much more flexibility. The novel coalition of EnviroDefense/TRnl still hopes to persuade the powers-that-be to take a bolder approach to the evaluation of Beltway options.

A further option would be some degree of reconfigurability of the Beltway with single span overbridges and movable barriers. Of course some unkind outsiders from Texas and suchlike places say they favor a Beltway configured as a noose, to be gradually tightened each year around the neck of DC.