Megaprojects: 395 Express Lanes Extension in the City of Alexandria and Arlington and Fairfax Counties

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I-395/Seminary Road HOV Ramp

The 395 Express Lanes/Seminary Road Ramp would be converted from a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) ramp to a High Occupancy Toll (or Express Lanes) ramp.

This south-facing reversible ramp at I-395 and Seminary Road falls within the limits of and provides access to the 395 Express Lanes. Currently, this ramp operates as an HOV-only ramp, providing access to the 395 Express Lanes at all times for carpools and buses. VDOT’s private operator of the 395 Express Lanes, Transurban, is proposing to convert this ramp from an HOV-only ramp to an express lanes ramp. This ramp would provide access to the 395 Express Lanes for vehicles with fewer than three occupants who pay a toll, and would continue to be available toll-free for HOV vehicles with three or more occupants.

The 395 Express Lanes/Seminary Road HOV Ramp Conversion Project would be implemented by VDOT, in partnership with Transurban. VDOT would maintain oversight, while Transurban would design, implement needed changes, and maintain the project.

395 Express Lanes

The 395 Express Lanes opened to traffic in November 2019, view the 395 Express Lanes Opening Fact Sheet.

This project extended the 395 Express Lanes about eight miles north, from the Turkeycock Run interchange near Edsall Road to the vicinity of Eads Street in Arlington. To learn how the 395 Express Lanes work, visit www.expresslanes.com/395.

The two High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes that existed prior to construction were converted to express lanes and a third lane was added, providing three reversible express lanes.

The improvements were mostly built within the existing footprint of the I-395 HOV lanes.

In November 2015, the commonwealth signed a framework agreement establishing that the 395 Express Lanes extension be done by Transurban under the current 95 Express Lanes Comprehensive Agreement with VDOT.

New bus and slug lanes at the Pentagon South Parking Lot opened in May 2019.

A fourth travel lane along the southbound I-395 general purpose lanes between Duke Street and Edsall Road opened in June 2020.

There will be a dedicated annual payment by Transurban for transit services and multimodal strategies identified in a study led by Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

Vehicles with three or more people can use the express lanes free, while vehicles with fewer than three people can choose to pay a variable toll and use the express lanes.

Project information is also available on the Transurban 395 Express Lanes webpage.

Benefits

This project:

Provides new travel options for single-occupant drivers.
Provides quicker access to the Pentagon and Crystal City through interchange improvements at Eads Street.
Funds additional transit options for commuters through $15 million a year from toll revenues.
Eases congestion with a new fourth regular lane southbound Duke Street to Edsall Road.