I 95 in Virginia (Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Bowling Green: apartments, trains, cars)

[slowlane3]

Virginia decades ago, charged a heavy toll on I-95 just between Richmond and Petersburg, as well as on the I-64 Tunnel between Hampton and Norfolk. Both tolls were later removed.

Plans are underway to get more frequent Amtrak service between D.C. and Richmond, but not for several years. A second rail crossing parallel to the existing Potomac rail bridge ("Long Bridge") will first have to be built, to give more capacity.

Fredericksburg is a bottleneck, partly because the city is a major shopping mecca for a large several-county region, and the Rappahannock River forms a barrier, so that people going short distances must get on either I-95 or Route 1, as there are no other alternate crossings.

The recent extension of VRE rail a few additional miles to Spotsylvania, with a commuter parking lot there, has helped a little.

[Deeman804]

Originally Posted by slowlane3

Fredericksburg is a bottleneck, partly because the city is a major shopping mecca for a large several-county region, and the Rappahannock River forms a barrier, so that people going short distances must get on either I-95 or Route 1, as there are no other alternate crossings.

The recent extension of VRE rail a few additional miles to Spotsylvania, with a commuter parking lot there, has helped a little.

Same situation with Woodbridge and the Occoquan River. Passing those two on a weekend in the summer is a driver’s definition of Hell.

[Old Dominionite]

I think the ideal solution to I-95 is a mix of road and rail projects.

The current plan to expand rail infrastructure and frequency of service between Richmond and D.C. is definitely a big step in the right direction.

As for the roads, I find further widening of I-95 less preferable than construction of a new long-distance bypass of D.C. and Baltimore that largely follows U.S. Route 301 between Carmel Church/Bowling Green and Wilmington. I know such a bypass is fanciful because I doubt Maryland would ever get on board. Heck, they're not even interested in adding bike/pedestrian lanes to the new Nice Bridge. However, effectively separating long-distance and local traffic would mitigate much of the problems along the I-95 corridor.

[Deeman804]

Originally Posted by Old Guard

I am against corporate tolls.

Many Virginians are but we are too cheap to pay for an untolled major road project on 95/495. I think it’s a reasonable alternative (compared to not adding any lanes) but not the golden ticket to solve our traffic woes.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by Old Dominionite

I think the ideal solution to I-95 is a mix of road and rail projects.

The current plan to expand rail infrastructure and frequency of service between Richmond and D.C. is definitely a big step in the right direction.

As for the roads, I find further widening of I-95 less preferable than construction of a new long-distance bypass of D.C. and Baltimore that largely follows U.S. Route 301 between Carmel Church/Bowling Green and Wilmington. I know such a bypass is fanciful because I doubt Maryland would ever get on board. Heck, they're not even interested in adding bike/pedestrian lanes to the new Nice Bridge. However, effectively separating long-distance and local traffic would mitigate much of the problems along the I-95 corridor.

LOL, the "new Nice Bridge ", you think bike lanes and a pedestrian walkway are the answer? No the merger between I-95 and 295 in Virginia is a sin as is the condition of the actual road itself , two lanes thru to NC is a joke. Hell even NC is widening 95 .Maryland has already done it.

[MrKnight]

Originally Posted by choff5

This is supposed to help, https://www.railwayage.com/passenger...assenger-rail/ but who knows how long it will take to happen. In the meantime has anyone noticed just how many new apartment complexes are undar construction in Fredericksburg? Where is everyone coming from to fill them and worse yet, how many more cars will it add to the roads, most likely headed north.

There is already existing rail service in NOVA via both Amtrak's Northeast Regional and VRE

[Old Dominionite]

Originally Posted by G1..

LOL, the "new Nice Bridge ", you think bike lanes and a pedestrian walkway are the answer? No the merger between I-95 and 295 in Virginia is a sin as is the condition of the actual road itself , two lanes thru to NC is a joke. Hell even NC is widening 95 .Maryland has already done it.

No, I don’t think bike lanes and a pedestrian walkway are the answer. You didn’t read the post carefully enough.

[choff5]

Originally Posted by MrKnight

There is already existing rail service in NOVA via both Amtrak's Northeast Regional and VRE

Yes. I know that. And it’s not enough. These plans are very much needed but will take years. I think they can help but in the meantime the population in and around Fredericksburg keeps growing. I often drive up 208 passed Spotsylvania Courthouse and someone is building all kinds of apartments out there. Where are the people coming from for them and more importantly where will their cars be going? Spotsy does not have an adequate transit system within the county once you are outside of Fredericksburg.

[VA Yankee]

I95 doesn't need to be widened again, most traffic is heading north or southbound and needs to bypass the DC Metro in its entirety. An option would be to improve 301 from Bowling Green into Maryland it could then remerge into the beltway or cross Chesapeake Bay either on an improved Chesapeake Bridge or a new crossing a bit more south. Either crossing could then connect to Delaware Route 1 (a highway) that will take them back to I95 allowing them to continue on.

This route allows a complete bypass of the DC Metro and NOVA, depending on the reconnect to I95 it can bypass the Baltimore metro also. The route runs almost parallel and would not be out of the way think of the traffic reduction this would create.

[choff5]

Originally Posted by VA Yankee

I95 doesn't need to be widened again, most traffic is heading north or southbound and needs to bypass the DC Metro in its entirety. An option would be to improve 301 from Bowling Green into Maryland it could then remerge into the beltway or cross Chesapeake Bay either on an improved Chesapeake Bridge or a new crossing a bit more south. Either crossing could then connect to Delaware Route 1 (a highway) that will take them back to I95 allowing them to continue on.

This route allows a complete bypass of the DC Metro and NOVA, depending on the reconnect to I95 it can bypass the Baltimore metro also. The route runs almost parallel and would not be out of the way think of the traffic reduction this would create.

Amen. Replacing the current Harry Nice Bridge is a start. Last summer we were crazy to go to Ocean City Md over the July 4th weekend. Coming home on Sunday getting across the Bay Bridge was bad enough and I didn’t want to deal with DC and 95 south so we took 301 towards Fredericksburg. People bailing out of I-95 north had a FIVE mile backup trying to get across the Harry Nice Bridge. If it was a true bypass it would help so much.