Act today!

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) wants to move ahead with a $2-3 billion plan to expand I-66 from the Beltway to Haymarket. Before adding more highway lanes, VDOT and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) should fully evaluate less expensive, less damaging, and better solutions.

Any effective long-term solution must include a focus on building more walkable and bikeable communities near transit. A transit-first approach could better address the transportation needs of I-66 while creating quality communities and reducing impacts on neighborhoods and our streams, air and climate.

Both toll lanes and general purpose lane widening spur the phenomenon of induced traffic -- if you build it, they will come. More lanes mean more development farther and farther out.

While the I-66 plans include new bus service and the possibility of a multi-use trail, these plans take a back seat to the highway widening. Instead, transit should come first, and be combined with enhanced biking and walking connections and fixing bottlenecks like the Route 28 interchange before adding new lanes.

Use the template below to tell VDOT and our elected officials to go back to the drawing board and evaluate other alternatives for I-66. Personalized emails mean more, so if you have time please take a moment to put our template text into your own words. Your email will be sent to VDOT and Governor McAuliffe.

The comment deadline is Thursday June 18.

Thank you!

*If you have trouble using this link, please use this alternate link to create and send your email.

This alert is a joint effort by I66 Corridor Coalition members including Transiters and the Coalition for Smarter Growth, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, Herndon Environmental Network, Friends of Accotink Creek, Providence District Council, and the Sierra Club.