VDOT seeks input on charging tolls on Seminary Road/395 ramp

The Virginia Department of Transportation is hosting a virtual meeting this evening on the conversion of the Interstate 395 Express Lanes/Seminary Road ramp from a High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) ramp to a High-Occupancy Toll ramp.

The meeting is Dec. 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Join the meeting on Webex. To participate in listen-only mode, call 866-692-4530; access code 2424-608-4393. 

VDOT officials will describe the project and seek input on draft design plans for the ramp conversion. This meeting is a follow-up to VDOT’s previous public meeting for the project in December 2019.

The south-facing reversible ramp at I-395 and Seminary Road falls within the limits of and provides access to the I-395 Express Lanes. Currently, this ramp operates as an HOV-only ramp, providing access to the Express Lanes at all times for vehicles with three or more occupants and buses. 

VDOT’s private operator of the 395 Express Lanes, Transurban, is proposing to convert the ramp to an express lanes ramp, which would allow access to vehicles with fewer than three occupants who pay a toll. Free access would continue for HOVs. 

The ramp conversion project would be implemented by VDOT in partnership with Transurban. VDOT would maintain oversight, while Transurban would design and implement the changes and maintain the project.

The public can provide comments during the Dec. 6 virtual meeting or following the meeting through Dec. 16, via an online comment form or by sending an email to [email protected].