Fairfax County residents and officials are upset about the delay of the I-395/95 HOT lane project and they are letting the state know about it, according to a recent story in the Washington Post.

Beltway residents daily deal with communiting nightmares and are anxious for solutions to lessen the headache of getting around town. Projects like high-speed rail and I-395/95 HOT lane are such solutions.

This is an important topic for homeowners because in addition to making day-to-day living easier, improving traffic in such a highly congested area can make Fairfax more appealing to new residents, which is key to protecting home values.

"Fairfax County leaders are urging state officials to restart their plan to build express lanes on two traffic-clogged highways in Northern Virginia, saying the delay or termination of the I-395/95 HOT lane project would exacerbate a 'commuting nightmare' for Beltway residents.

In a letter dated Tuesday to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova (D) wrote that county officials had "very grave reservations" about the HOT lanes project delay, asking that the state re-evaluate its decision.

The I-395/95 HOT lanes would extend south from the Pentagon to Massaponax in Spotsylvania County, intersecting the Beltway at the Springfield interchange. Construction was to have begun by next summer. 

But in August, the state announced it would delay construction of the express lanes. Elected officials and both gubernatorial candidates blamed each other for the postponement. At the time, Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer said it was unwise to borrow money for the project along one of the country's most traffic congested areas during a recession."

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