Federal Highway Administration Provides
$240,000 To Help the Washington, DC Metro Area Reduce Congestion

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today provided $240,000 in federal grant funds to help the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) explore new ways to reduce congestion through a study of regional high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in the metropolitan area.

The grant is part of the FHWA Value Pricing Pilot Program to fund testing and evaluation of innovative ways to reduce traffic congestion. The MWCOG will use the grant to evaluate the benefits of tolling on high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes linking Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

The landmark highway, transit and safety legislation signed in August by President Bush gives states more flexibility to use tolling, HOT lanes and other congestion solutions to offer drivers more choices for a reliable trip. With HOT lanes, low-occupancy vehicles are charged a toll while high-occupancy vehicles may use the lane at no charge or at a discounted rate.

"The Bush Administration championed tolling in the new transportation law so states would have more innovative ways to tackle congestion and give drivers more choices to get home or to work," said Acting Federal Highway Administrator J. Richard Capka.

In addition to keeping lanes free flowing, tolling generates revenue for transportation improvements and expansion, according to Capka.

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FY '05 Value Pricing Pilot Program Grants

FHWA Press Room