Virginia driver pays $103 for 22-mile I-66 express lane round trip

A Gainesville woman paid $103 for a round-trip drive on the Interstate 66 express lanes in Northern Virginia.

Karen, who spoke to News4 after the station reported on soaring tolls on Wednesday, said she uses the lanes to transport her husband to medical appointments in Fairfax. On one recent morning, the eastbound leg of the journey covered 22 miles and cost $74. One hour later, the return trip cost $29.

The station previously reported that peak-hour tolls on the I-66 express lanes outside the Beltway reached $30, $60, and $80 for the longest trips this week. Karen described the financial impact on her family as money draining out. She values the express lanes for their reliability and lower congestion but complained that road signage does not display the total cost of a trip in real time.

"The cost of each express segment is shown on the overhead signs. But you can't add it up in real time. You don't know how much it's going to cost you until you look at the billing later," she said.

Drivers can calculate trip costs online before entering the lanes, though those estimates may shift due to dynamic pricing. This pricing strategy is designed to discourage drivers from using the lanes during heavy traffic to maintain flow. Karen questioned the fairness of these fluctuating rates, asking if this was what residents agreed to when express lanes were introduced.

The Virginia Department of Transportation stated that some toll revenue funds transit services along the I-66 corridor. The agency also noted that drivers with three or more people in their vehicles can use the lanes for free.