August 7, 2002
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The Council approved HOV or carpool lanes linking similar lanes on I-270 and I-495 for inclusion in the State Construction Priority List, projects due to be completed by 2015. Council members voted to approve lanes running from I-495 in Virginia to the I-270 West Spur, and from I-270 Shady Grove to Frederick County.
Such HOV lanes would provide congestion-free travel at all times for buses, carpools and van pools (including airport shuttles and taxis) between the I-270 Corridor to Dulles Airport, Tysons Corner, or Reston and Herndon. The right-of-way is 300-feet wide in this portion of the Beltway, and can more easily accommodate the addition of two HOV lanes than would the segment of the Beltway through Chevy Chase and Silver Spring, where the right-of-way is generally only 200-feet wide.