Rep. Subramanyam Urges SCC to Not Raise Dulles Greenway Tolls

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) is urging the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to not allow a proposed toll hike on the Dulles Greenway, a 14-mile privately-owned, limited-access highway. The SCC recently held a hearing about increasing tolls from $5.80 to $6.75 during peak times and from $5.25 to $5.60 during off-peak hours.

"The Dulles Greenway is already too expensive because of price gouging and failed policies of the past. At a time when working families are facing rising costs, it's vital that we continue to prevent toll operators from hiking prices on commuters and that we not render the road unusable. This request would materially discourage people from using the road," Rep. Subramanyam said.

This is not the first time Toll Road Investors Partnership II (TRIP II) has attempted to raise tolls on the Dulles Greenway. The SCC denied a previous attempt to hike tolls, which would have cost Northern Virginia commuters an additional $1,150 annually. When Rep. Subramanyam served in the Virginia General Assembly, he passed legislation, HB 1832, which gave the SCC the authority to prevent toll increases that materially discourage use of the roadway. HB 1832 has been cited as a reason for the Commission denying toll increases.

Rep. Subramanyam is also the author of the Affordable Commutes Act, federal legislation to protect commuters from unreasonable toll prices and to lower costs for everyday drivers. The legislation directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to investigate the pricing practices of private toll roads and assess the potential for the federal government to purchase and transfer ownership of these roads to states.

You can read Rep. Subramanyam's full letter to the SCC here.

The public comment period is open until August 12th. Residents are encouraged to submit their comments here.