Plans for New Transit Ramp at Mark Center to Benefit Alexandria
Direct Ramp Included as Part of Updated Plans for I-95 HOV/HOT Lanes Project

Today the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced an updated plan for transportation improvements to reduce congestion and improve the traffic circulation within the I-95/I-395 corridor. The plans include several changes that will benefit the City of Alexandria.

• VDOT plans on constructing a new, single-lane, reversible ramp to connect the existing HOV lanes on I-395 to Seminary Road. This ramp will provide a critical link between expanded regional transit and HOV networks to the growing Mark Center site, where BRAC-133 is scheduled to relocate later this year. The ramp will only be open to HOV and transit. Construction of the ramp is slated to begin in early 2012.
• The HOT lanes project will not include originally planned construction of six miles of HOV/HOT lanes on I-395 in Alexandria or Arlington County, a plan that Alexandria’s elected officials opposed.
• The HOT lanes will end at Edsall Road, keeping the HOV-only lanes in Alexandria in place and avoiding changes to the Shirlington interchange.
• VDOT will provide funding to support these improvements, coupled with substantial investments from the private sector for the HOV/HOT Lanes project.

"A direct ramp from existing HOV lanes on I-395 to Seminary Road is good news for Alexandria residents and businesses," said Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille. "This positive development will have a big impact on traffic challenges near the BRAC facility at Mark Center. Alexandria had requested these improvements and we are encouraged that the Commonwealth of Virginia is proceeding with these upgrades and making a commitment to improve transportation infrastructure in Northern Virginia. Eliminating HOT lanes from I-395 is also the right thing to do, because no intrusive changes will be made to the Shirlington interchange. Alexandria will continue to work with our partners, Arlington and Fairfax Counties, and VDOT, to find additional solutions to our traffic concerns."