Commuter future discussed at Moncure meeting

By JIM LAWRENCE
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: June 12, 2008

STAFFORD — Long-range plans for expanding HOV lanes through Spotsylvania County, and comamuter parking was discussed at a public meeting held at Anne E. Moncure Elementary School on June 4.

HOV (high occupancy vehicles) are available to drivers at no extra cost for motorcyclists and vehicles carrying three or more passengers at designated times of the day.  HOT (high occupancy toll) lanes are the same lanes but may be used by other drivers for a toll. The toll would be charged electronically, eliminating any need for tollbooths. Expansion of commuter lots would greatly expanded on both Garrisonville and Courthouse roads.

Lanes at Dumfries and farther north would be expanded to three lanes in each direction.  Present cost estimates of the entire project stand at $195 million, and would include a new interchange at 95 and Courthouse Road.

Original plans called for a cloverleaf interchange. Further, present plans call for the interchange site to be moved a little of south of where the access lanes now, with concerns for access to the new hospital in mind.

“The project is almost all federally funded,” said Garrisonville Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer, D-Garrisonville. However, “it’s not as easy as it sounds,” he added, saying that other localities would be in competition for the same allocations.

The project would be completed in phases by 2014.

Jim Lawrence is a contributing writer at the Stafford County Sun. Reach him at .