Press Releases

Today, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), and Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) sent a letter urging the Washington Headquarters Services to study a potential slug pick up location at the Pentagon in anticipation of planned, but significant, disruptions to commuting patterns along the I-66 corridor.

“There are significant disruptions on the horizon for I-66 commuting patterns,” wrote the Members. “One of the alternatives we could make available to commuters is slugging. Slugging allows drivers to use HOV lanes without paying tolls and riders to commute into the city free of charge.”

“WHS could help that effort by studying the establishment of a slug pick up station at the Pentagon ahead of the planned WMATA station closures and the I-66 HOV changes in order to allow a slugging infrastructure to develop along I-66 to the Pentagon,” the Members continued. “More than 10,000 people already use slugging to commute into Washington from several points along I-95. Although slugging is not yet as common on I-66, there is likely to be more interest during the WMATA station closures and the opening of HOV-3 lanes on I-66. Establishing additional slugging pick-up and drop-off points could make the slugging more reliable and convenient for commuters.”

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is planning to shut down the Vienna and Dunn Loring Metro stations on the Orange Line between July 5th and September 7th of 2020. Maintenance work will continue in the fall and winter of that year on the West Falls Church and East Falls Church stations. Also, starting in 2021 the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is planning to transition I-66 lanes to HOV-3.

The full letter is below, and a signed copy can be found here.


Mr. Thomas Muir
Director
Washington Headquarters Services
1155 Defense Pentagon, Room 3E171
Washington, D.C. 20301-1155

Dear Mr. Muir:

We write to request that Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) work with local and state partners to study establishing a slug pick up station at the Pentagon for the I-66 corridor.

As you know, there are significant disruptions on the horizon for I-66 commuting patterns. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is planning to shut down the Vienna and Dunn Loring Metro stations on the Orange Line between July 5th and September 7th of 2020. Maintenance work will continue in the fall and winter of that year on the West Falls Church and East Falls Church stations. Also, starting in 2021 the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is planning to transition I-66 lanes to HOV-3.

These transportation projects will result in significant disruptions of current commuting patterns that will require commuters to seek alternative modes of transportation along the I-66 corridor. One of the alternatives we could make available to commuters is slugging. Slugging allows drivers to use HOV lanes without paying tolls and riders to commute into the city free of charge.

WHS could help that effort by studying the establishment of a slug pick up station at the Pentagon ahead of the planned WMATA station closures and the I-66 HOV changes in order to allow a slugging infrastructure to develop along I-66 to the Pentagon. More than 10,000 people already use slugging to commute into Washington from several points along I-95. Although slugging is not yet as common on I-66, there is likely to be more interest during the WMATA station closures and the opening of HOV-3 lanes on I-66. Establishing additional slugging pick-up and drop-off points could make the slugging more reliable and convenient for commuters.

We would be glad to help WHS reach out to local jurisdictions to help study this new transportation alternative for commuters.

Sincerely,