Arlington pressured to settle HOT lanes suit

ARLINGTON, Va. - Arlington County is getting pressure from Fairfax County to settle a lawsuit that has stalled the High Occupancy Toll lanes project for Interstate 95/395.

Sharon Bulova, chairwoman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, says Fairfax County wants the issue settled fast.

"I would hate, and so would my colleagues on the board, hate to see the entire project evaporate.

"We would like to work with Arlington on a settlement that allows things to go forward."

Arlington wants a more thorough review of the HOT lanes project. The county says the plans have moved forward without regard to the increased traffic that would travel through local neighborhoods.

Bulova says scrapping the project altogether would mess up plans for rapid transit through the region. High occupancy toll lanes are already under construction along the Capital Beltway in Fairfax County.

Arlington Chairman Barbara Favola says the county is negotiating a settlement but wants it in writing because the players involved are changing now that Virginia has elected a new governor.

Even if Arlington settles its lawsuit, HOT lanes still face opposition from Prince William County. And, negotiations between the state and a private builder have stalled over financing.

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