Take Action

Take Action to Oppose the Proposed I-495 Southside Toll Lane Expansion Project

We join residents and community groups in opposition to the Proposed I-495 South Toll Lane Expansion Project due to its inequitable, unsafe, and environmentally harmful impacts, and urge investment in sustainable transportation that benefits all. Let’s prioritize transit equity, climate action, and community health over more lanes and tolls. 

5 Talking Points for Opposing the I-495 Southside Toll Lanes

1.  Toll Lanes Do Not Solve Congestion. Toll lanes have failed to reduce traffic congestion in Northern Virginia, and often make it worse by creating bottlenecks and unsafe merging conditions. Real-world experience shows that congestion remains or worsens in both toll and general-purpose lanes. The additional merge points from toll lanes create confusion and backups, undermining the very goal of improved traffic flow.

2.  The Project Is Environmentally Harmful and Increases Pollution. Highway expansion encourages more driving, leading to increased vehicle emissions, air pollution, and noise, especially in already overburdened communities on the MDE Environmental Justice Screening Tool. Communities bordering highways, often low-income and majority-Black or Brown, already suffer from disproportionate pollution exposure. Expanding I-495 would intensify these health and environmental injustices.

3.  Toll Pricing Is Inherently Inequitable. Dynamic toll systems create a two-tiered system where only those who can afford high fees benefit from faster commutes. With tolls randomly ranging from a few dollars to nearly $ 80 one-way, low- and moderate-income drivers are priced out of convenience. They are left in the slower lanes, while wealthier drivers pay to bypass traffic, deepening inequality.

4.  Increased Danger and Congestion on Local Roads. The project will push more traffic onto already congested and dangerous roads like Routes 5, 4, and 210 without addressing long-standing safety issues. Route 210, dubbed the “highway of death,” is already a public safety crisis. Adding traffic without safety upgrades risks more fatalities, longer emergency response times, and greater strain on local infrastructure.

5.  Better Alternatives Exist: Invest in Transit, Not Tolls. Extending Metro over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge would move more people, reduce pollution, and offer equitable, long-term transportation solutions. Rail and transit options are more sustainable, cost-effective, and climate-friendly. They reduce car dependency, cut emissions, and serve all residents, regardless of income.

Three Ways to Take Action 

Send a Letter

Join us in voicing your opposition to the I-495 Southside Express Lanes to the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) by sending a letter to VDOT’s official comment email and other officials related to this project. This action will only take a minute since a draft of the letter is already written. 

Attend the July 16, 2025, Transportation Planning Board Meeting, from 12 - 2 p.m.

Showing up at the Transportation Planning Board meeting is crucial. Your presence and testimony can help stop the harmful 495S expansion and push for a smarter, greener solution by extending light rail over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. 

Complete VDOT’s Official Online Comment Form

This may take a little longer to complete. However, you can use the talking points below to help you to complete the form.

More Information about the Proposal