The Concept Of Highway Robbery Illustrated In Our Nation’s Capital

The Washington Post posted an article yesterday about the tolls levied on solo drivers on I-66. It seems that the tolls on this road vary according to the amount of congestion on the road.

Yesterday the toll on Interstate 66 inside the Capital Beltway reached $46.50 for a solo driver during the morning rush, just below a record of $47.25 set last month. This toll is for 10 miles of road.

The article explains:

The I-66 tolls, which are meant to encourage drivers to carpool or use public transportation inside the Beltway, have raised criticism among some drivers since they began in December. Solo drivers who travel on those 10 miles of I-66 at peak periods are charged based on a “dynamic pricing” system that changes every six minutes, depending on traffic volumes and speeds.

Drivers are charged to use the lanes if they are alone, but usage is free with two or more occupants in a vehicle with an E-ZPass Flex transponder.

On Tuesday, Jake Jenkins was driving from his home in Clifton to his job in McLean when he noticed the price hit $46. He said he watched the highway signage indicate a driver would get to the District in 20 minutes. That compared to 33 minutes if driving on U.S. 50 for free — a difference of 13 minutes.

The variation in the toll creates problems in that when some solo drivers planning to take the toll road see the toll go above a reasonable amount, they will often have to change lanes quickly to avoid the toll. This is a recipe for traffic accidents during congested times. This is a ridiculous system designed to manipulate people into car pooling. Car pooling may be a good idea, but I (and I suspect many other people) resent being forced into it.