IDEA–66: WESTBOUND I-66 INSIDE THE BELTWAY SURVEY

SPONSOR:

Virginia Department of Transportation

Contact: Theresa L. DeFore, PE, Capital Beltway HOT Lanes and I-66 Inside the Beltway

RESEARCH VENDOR:

Southeastern Institute of Research, Inc., Richmond, VA. Conducted: 2004

Contact: John W. Martin

Telephone: 804-358-8981

Email: JWM@SIRresearch.com

OVERALL PURPOSE:

This research was designed to help guide the development and formulation of a context-sensitive solution to managing congestion in the I-66 Westbound corridor.

OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH:

Ž Describe and document trips Westbound along the I-66 corridor.

Ž Identify and assess stakeholder perception of traffic congestion in the Westbound I-66 corridor.

Ž Assess relative appeal of four initial concept categories that the Governor identified: bus or rail improvements, changing the requirements for HOV and/or adding toll lanes, roadway widening, or do nothing.

METHODOLOGY:

Mode of Data Collection	Telephone survey
Completed Interviews	501
Survey Population	Residents along the I-66 corridor
Survey Instrument	Questionnaire administered by telephone interviewer
Criteria for Participation	Respondents had to live within a 10-mile long / 1-mile wide corridor of I-66. All respondents traveled Westbound at least 3 times per week, using either I-66, Metro or other roads running parallel to I-66.

SELECTED KEY FINDINGS:

Ž Westbound commuters along the I-66 westbound corridor believe that westbound traffic in the corridor is becoming more congested.

Approximately 77% of commuters believe that Westbound traffic in the I-66 corridor is becoming more congested.

Ž Both residents inside the Beltway (69%) and outside (88%) believe the I-66 corridor is becoming increasingly congested.

Ž Stakeholders blame increased congestion on the number of cars on the road, not having enough lanes on the road and population growth and development.

Approximately 38% of commuters believe the congestion is the result of too many cars, and approximately 27% believe there are not enough lanes for Westbound traffic.

Ž Half of commuters (52%) propose widening lanes to resolve traffic congestion. One-third (33%) of commuters propose improving public transportation/expanding Metro to resolve traffic congestion.

Ž Of four concepts tested, the two most popular were: make bus and/or rail transit improvements and roadway widening. Nearly half, 47%, of commuters selected bus and/or rail transit improvements their first choice to reduce I-66 Westbound congestion. About 37% of commuters selected roadway widening as their first choice to reduce I-66 Westbound congestion.

Ž A Concept Performance Index was calculated for the four concepts tested. On this index, bus and/or rail transit improvements ranked highest among commuters (36 points out of a possible 100), but this option was not overwhelmingly preferred over roadway widening (29 points) or changing the requirements for HOV and/or adding toll lanes (25 points).

Ž Overwhelmingly, residents want some kind of action - only 10% of commuters said that “doing nothing” was their first choice.

Ž From the perspective of stakeholders, making “bus and/or rail improvements” should be adopted as a plan – or at least as part of a plan – to reduce traffic congestion on Westbound I-66. Widening the roadway is also a strong contender and should be included as part of a plan that is responsive to the needs and preferences of stakeholders. Ideally, a plan that involves both bus and rail improvements and widening the roadway would be a context-sensitive solution.

AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS:

Questionnaire

Data Tables

PowerPoint Presentations

KEY WORDS:

Bus, commuters, congestion, HOV, I-66 corridor, I-66 Westbound, Metro, Northern Virginia, public transportation, toll lanes, widening lanes