Newspaper Column: Tilting at Tollbooths
Date
2000-05
Authors
Nicoson, William J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Connection
Abstract
Last week as I drove the Greenway from Leesburg, heading on to Dulles Airport and to Washington, it occurred to me that the driving experience can actually be a pleasure. It’s true that driving is often a frustrating experience due to traffic congestion. In addition it’s become a more costly experience as the price of gas has been hijacked by foreign suppliers. And, yes, aggressive driving and increasing instances of road rage make the experience increasingly hazardous. But gliding leisurely along the Greenway, admiring the stretching greenswards on every hand, I marveled at the contrast in driving experience I was about to encounter on the Dulles Toll Road. A former Reston resident and architect of considerable distinction, Wayne L. Hughes, has explained to me that there’s more to this contrast than the view of rural nature versus exploding urbanscapes and low versus high traffic counts. He is leading a campaign to force the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to replace its signage system on the Toll Road which, he says, “takes the concept of confusion to a new level.”
Description
PDF file distilled from original WordPerfect document. Original size 11" x 8.5".
Keywords
Toll roads, Dulles Greenway, Commuting, Traffic, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)