Toll Prices Soar Over $30 as I-66 Express Lanes Open

Solo drivers who used I-66 as tolling began faced as much as $34.50 in tolls to go one way. 

Monday was the first day weekday rush hour commuters could use the Express Lanes on I-66 inside the Beltway. The Express Lanes allow drivers to use the road for free as carpoolers, but solo drivers must pay a toll that adjusts according to traffic conditions. 

By 8:30 a.m. Monday, the estimated toll for a trip from I-495 North to exit 73 in Rosslyn was $30, according to VDOT's online calculator. 

Those prices climbed to a high of $34.50 for single drivers -- which sparked outrage on social media.

Go here to see real-time toll estimates of how much you would pay.

But the governor and Virginia Department of Transportation officials say the tolls are working as they're supposed to.

$30 toll for I-495 > Roslyn Exit 73 👀 Car poolers, set your EZ Pass Flex into HOV mode to avoid tolls like this; solo drivers, you could see rush hour rates rise and fall pic.twitter.com/klrK9c7EzN

— Justin Finch (@JustinNBC4) December 4, 2017

"This is how it's supposed to work," Gov. Terry McAuliffe told News4. "When it's getting too congested, they don't want you on the roads. Do an alternative."

"We could not keep 66 the way it was," McAuliffe said. "It's just bottleneck."

"That was a choice that they made which they didn't have before today," VDOT's Michelle Holland said.

Del. Tim Hugo, chairman of the Virginia House of Delegates' Republican Caucus, called the tolls "unacceptable." 

“Drivers across our region are shocked at the exorbitant tolls we’ve seen on I-66 over the last couple days," he said in a statement. "This is not what anyone expected to see. We immediately need to come together to craft a realistic public policy solution that helps lower the cost of commuting for single-occupancy vehicles on I-66 inside the Beltway."

VDOT said the tolls are shortening commute times; the average commute time along I-66 was cut in half when compared to the commute one year ago, the department said. 

Carpoolers can travel on the I-66 express lanes for free, but they need to use a special pass called the E-ZPass Flex. The pass features a switch to enter HOV mode and signal you’re carpooling. Police patrolling for violators can detect when HOV mode is activated, officials say.

In 2022, you'll need three people in car to use HOV privileges. 

About 63 percent of drivers were solo and paid the toll, VDOT said.

About 12 percent of drivers didn't have their E-ZPass, according to VDOT. 

If you still need an E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex, you can purchase one at a location listed below or online.

Anyone who drives in the Express Lanes without a pass will face a $12.50 fine.

You can avoid the fine by going online three days after passing through the toll without paying. Just type in your licence plate number and pay the toll online. VDOT says you still have to pay an administrative fee, however.

The tolls will only be in effect on weekdays between 5:30 and 9:30 a.m. for eastbound lanes and from 3 to 7 p.m. on westbound lanes.

There are no longer any exceptions for people travelling to Dulles International Airport or for owners of clean fuel and hybrid vehicles.

VDOT says you can visit one of the Northern Virginia stores listed below to buy your E-ZPass, but call ahead to ensure each store is open and has what you need. You can also see the list and a map here.

AAA Fredericksburg
2871 Plank Rd., Fredericksburg, VA 22401

AAA Alexandria
2231 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314-4666

AAA Fairfax CCIT
9400 Main St Fairfax, VA 22031-4032

AAA Tysons Corner
8300 Old Courthouse Rd Vienna, VA 22182-3822

AAA Fairfax
4100 Monument Corner Dr Fairfax, VA 22030-8609

AAA Manassas CCIT
7865 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA 20109

AAA Washington DC
1405 G Street NW Washington, DC 20005

Classic Concierge
1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tyson's Corner, VA 22102

DMV - Woodbridge
2731 Caton Hill Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192-4116

DMV - Stafford
874 Garrisonville Road, Stafford, VA 22554-3901

DMV - Pentagon
Room 2C1049, Washington, DC 20301

DMV - Manassas
9800 Godwin Drive, Manassas, VA 20110-4105

DMV - Lorton
7714 Gunston Plaza, Lorton, VA 22079

DMV - Fredericksburg
5700 Southpoint Centre Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA 22407-2601

DMV - Franconia
6306 Grovedale Drive, Alexandria, VA 22310-2551

DMV - Alexandria
2681 Mill Road, Alexandria, VA 22314-4680

DMV - Sterling
100 Free Court, Sterling, VA 20164-3201

DMV - Leesburg
945 Edwards Ferry Road NE, Leesburg, VA 20176-3301

DMV - Fair Oaks Mall
11805 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033

DMV - Arlington
4150 South Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington, VA 22206-1106

Brunswick DMV Select
100 Athletic Field Road, Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Arlington DMV Select
2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 218, Arlington, VA 22201

Arlington Metro DMV Customer Service Center
3434 North Washington Blvd., Suite RET01, Arlington, VA 22201

Tysons Corner DMV Customer Service Center
1968 Gallows Road, Vienna, VA 22182-3909

Stafford DMV Select
1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22554

Purcellville DMV Select
109 N. Bailey Lane, Purcellville, VA 20132

DMV - Fairfax City
10455 Armstrong Street, Room 224, Fairfax, VA 22030

DMV - Fairfax/Westfields
14950 Northridge Drive, Chantilly, VA 20151-3809

Rosslyn Commuter Store
Rosslyn Metro Station Entrance, 1810 N. Moore Street, Arlington, VA 22209

Shirlington Commuter Store
2975 S. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22206 (at the Shirlington Bus Station)

Crystal City Commuter Store
251 18th Street, S., Arlington VA, 22202

Ballston Commuter Store
Ballston-MU Metro Plaza (kiosk at top of escalator), 4230 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203

Tyson's West Park Transit Station Connector Store
8300 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22102

Reston Town Center Transit Station Connector Store
12051 Bluemont Way, Reston, VA 20190

Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride Connector Store
12530 Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon, VA 20171

Franconia-Springfield Metro Station Connector Store
6880 Frontier Drive, Springfield, VA 22150

Giant - Annandale
6980 Braddock Rd Annandale, VA 22003-6036

Giant - Stafford
317 Worth Ave Stafford, VA 22556-1538

Giant - Falls Church
7235 Arlington Blvd Falls Church, VA 22042-3219

Giant - Fairfax
11200 Main St Fairfax, VA 22030-5050

Giant - Springfield
8074 Rolling Rd Springfield, VA 22153-2928

Giant - Arlington
7558 Telegraph Rd Alexandria, VA 22315-3829

Giant - Falls Church
3480 S Jefferson St Falls Church, VA 22041-3104

Giant - Arlington
2501 9th St S Arlington, VA 22204

Giant - Alexandria
5730 Edsall Rd Alexandria, VA 22304-4712

Giant - Alexandria
5870 Kingstowne Blvd Alexandria, VA 22315

Giant - Ashburn
43670 Greenway Corporate Dr Ashburn, VA 20147-6985

Giant - Arlington
3115 Lee Hwy Arlington, VA 22201-4207

Giant - Ashburn
43330 Junction Plaza, Ashburn, VA 20147

Giant - Herndon
2551 John Milton Drive, Herndon, VA 20171

Giant - Sterling
21800 Town Center Plaza, #226, Sterling, VA 20164

Giant - Herndon
1228 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170

Giant - Sterling
21000 Southbank St - Ste 150, Sterling, VA 20165

Giant - Ashburn
44110 Ashburn Village Blvd #160, Ashburn, VA 20147

Giant - Leesburg
61 Catoctin Circle NE, Leesburg, VA 22075

Giant - Manassas
10100 Dumfries Road, Manassas VA 20110

Giant - Fredericksburg
550 Celebrate Virginia Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA 22406

Giant - Chantily
25050 Riding Plaza Suite 100, Chantilly, VA 20152

Giant - Charlottesville
1900 Abbey Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901

Giant - Oakton
2932 Chain Bridge Rd Oakton, VA 22124-3001

Giant - Centreville
5615 Stone Rd., Centreville, VA 20120

Giant - Dale City
5469 Mapledale Plaza, Dale City, VA 22193

Giant - Dale City
4309 Dale Blvd., Dale City, VA 22193

Giant - Falls Church
1230 W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046

Giant - Warrenton
41 West Lee Hwy., Warrenton, VA 20186

Giant - Lake Ridge
12445 Hedges Run Dr., Lake Ridge, VA 22192

Giant - Falmouth
35 Town and Country Rd., Falmouth, VA 22405

Giant - Spotsylvania
10346 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22553

Giant - Mc Lean
1454 Chain Bridge Rd Mc Lean, VA 22101-3706

Giant - Gainesville
7575 Linton Hall Rd Gainesville, VA 20155-2972

Giant - Arlington
3450 Washington Blvd Arlington, VA 22201-4508

Giant - Springfield
7501 Huntsman Blvd Springfield, VA 22153-1649

Giant - Haymarket
5581 Merchants View Sq Haymarket, VA 20169-5439

Giant - Centreville
14125 St Germain Dr Centreville, VA 20121-2310

Giant - Vienna
359 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180-4717

Giant - Fredericksburg
5701 Plank Rd Fredericksburg, VA 22407-6227

Giant - Manassas
8025 Sudley Rd Manassas, VA 20109-8001

Giant - Alexandria
621 E Glebe Road Alexandria, Va
Giant - Reston
[1500-1502] N Point Dr Reston, VA 20194

Giant - Clifton
5740 Union Mill Rd Clifton, VA 20124-1088

Giant - Purcellville
1000 E Main StPurcellville, VA 20132-3134

Giant - Leesburg
635 Potomac Station Dr NE, Leesburg, VA 20176-1818

Giant - Lorton
8941 Ox Rd Lorton, VA 22079-3216

Giant - Burke
6011 Burke Centre Pkwy Burke, VA 22015-3717

Giant - Herndon
13330 Franklin Farm Rd Herndon, VA 20171-4036

Giant - Fredericksburg
1245 Jefferson Davis Hwy Fredericksburg, VA 22401-4415

Giant - Fairfax
10653 Braddock Rd Fairfax, VA 22032-2202

Giant - Alexandria
6800 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, VA 22306-1704

Giant - Springfield
8320 Old Keene Mill Rd Springfield, VA 22152-1640

Giant - Annandale
7137 Columbia Pike Annandale, VA 22003-3146

Giant - Arlington
2901 S Glebe Rd 11 Arlington, VA 22204-5357

Giant - Fairfax
13043 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy Fairfax, VA 22033-2001

Giant - Springfield
6426 Springfield Plz Springfield, VA 22150-3428

Giant - Alexandria
3131 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22314-4518

Wegmans
12501 Stone Village Way, Midlothian, VA 23113

Wegmans 0 Telegraph Rd.
7950 Telegraph Rd. Alexandria, VA 22315

Wegmans
100 Wegmans Way, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Wegmans
11620 Monument Dr Fairfax, VA 22030-8706

Wegmans
101 Crosstrail Blvd Leesburg, VA 20176

Wegmans
45131 Columbia Pl Sterling, VA 20166-2501

Wegmans
8297 Stonewall Shops Sq Gainesville, VA 20155-3892

Wegmans
14801 Dining Way Woodbridge, VA 22191-4075

Wegmans
2281 Carl D Silver Pkwy Fredericksburg, VA 22401-4983

Wegmans
12200 Wegmans Blvd, Henrico, VA 23223