Rep. Subramanyam Opposes Dulles Greenway Toll Increase

Virginia Congressman Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) is urging the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to reject a proposed toll increase for the Dulles Greenway, a privately owned, 14-mile limited-access highway in Northern Virginia. The SCC recently held a hearing on a proposal to raise peak tolls from $5.80 to $6.75 and off-peak tolls from $5.25 to $5.60.

“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 in a statement.

According to the congressman, the toll road’s operator, Toll Road Investors Partnership II (TRIP II), has previously sought approval to increase tolls on the Dulles Greenway. The SCC rejected an earlier proposal that, according to his office, would have increased commuting costs for Northern Virginia drivers by approximately $1,150 annually.

Subramanyam also pointed to legislation he sponsored while serving in the Virginia General Assembly. House Bill 1832 granted the SCC authority to block toll increases that would materially discourage motorists from using the roadway. According to his office, the law has been cited by the commission in previous decisions denying toll increases.

The statement also highlighted Subramanyam’s federal proposal, the Affordable Commutes Act, which aims to protect drivers from what it describes as unreasonable toll increases. The legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation to review the pricing practices of privately operated toll roads and evaluate whether the federal government should purchase such roads and transfer ownership to state governments.

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