来源：《华盛顿邮报》
刊登日期：2021年4月24日
超纲词：congestion，impede
Virginia is forging ahead to complete an express lane network in the Washington suburbs that holds the promise of ensuring that highway capacity will keep pace with population growth. The project — dozens of miles of high-occupancy toll lanes developed and financed by a public-private partnership — faces undeniable risks, not least the uncertainty of post-pandemic commuting patterns.
弗吉尼亚州正在推进华盛顿郊区快速车道网络的建设，这有望确保高速公路的运力与人口增长保持同步。该项目——通过PPP模式融资开发的数十英里大容量收费车道——面临着不可否认的风险，尤其是大流行后通勤模式的不确定性。
But perhaps the biggest question mark hanging over the ultimate success of Virginia’s multibillion-dollar venture is its neighbor, Maryland.
但是，弗吉尼亚州数十亿美元的项目最终能否成功，最大的问号或许是它的邻居马里兰州。
The two states have agreed to replace and improve the American Legion Bridge, which links Interstate 495, the Beltway, over the Potomac River. The bridge, nearly 60 years old, is projected to carry 280,000 vehicles daily by 2040, about 20 percent more than 2019’s level.
这两个州已经同意替代和升级美国退伍军人大桥，该桥连接495号州际公路（环首都公路），横跨波托马克河。这座桥已经有近60年的历史，预计到2040年，它的日载客量将达到28万辆，比2019年的水平高出约20%。
On its side of the bridge, Virginia is moving toward adding a final, three-mile segment of toll roads that would end at the Potomac, in addition to improved general purpose lanes; construction is scheduled for completion in 2024. On its side, Maryland’s planning is in controversy.
在桥的一侧，弗吉尼亚州正朝着增加最后一段三英里长的收费公路的方向前进，这段收费公路终点是波托马克河，此外还改进了通用车道；工程计划于2024年竣工。而马里兰州方面的计划仍处于争议中。
Gov. Larry Hogan has proposed a public-private partnership that, in its initial stage, would roughly mirror Virginia’s network by adding toll lanes to the Beltway near the bridge. To build and operate the project, the state has preliminarily chosen the Australian toll operator Transurban, which also controls the Beltway toll lane project in Virginia. In return for financing and building the projects, the company would get most of the toll revenue for decades.
州长拉里·霍根提出了一项PPP计划，该计划在初期阶段与弗吉尼亚州的路网大致相似，在大桥附近的环首都公路上增加收费车道。为了建设和运营这个项目，马里兰州初步选择了澳大利亚收费运营商Transurban，该公司也控制着弗吉尼亚州的环首都高速收费车道项目。作为投资和建设项目的回报，该公司将获得数十年来大部分的通行费收入。
The governor’s plan makes sense, and the decision to choose Transurban, if finalized, would ensure a seamless connection between the states. Yet unlike Virginia, where there is broad consensus for expanding highway capacity, along with better transit options, Marylanders are at each other’s throats over the project.
州长的计划是有道理的，如果最终决定选择Transurban，将确保两州之间的无缝连接。在扩大高速公路运力以及更好的交通选择方面，弗吉尼亚人有着广泛的共识，然而，马里兰人却在这个项目上争论不休。
The usual objections to high-occupancy toll roads are weak arguments. Yes, in rush hour the toll lanes would be pricey, but no one would be forced to use them, and the existing lanes would be rebuilt and remain free of charge. Yes, the highway expansion would not “solve” traffic, but without it, congestion will go from bad to unbearable.
反对大容量收费公路的常见观点是站不住脚的。是的，在高峰时段收费车道会很昂贵，但没有人会被迫使用它们，现有的车道将被重建，并保持免费。是的，高速公路扩建并不能“解决”交通问题，但如果没有它，拥堵将会从糟糕变成难以忍受。
Local politicians in the Maryland suburbs, all Democrats, have raised every objection possible to impede the efforts of Mr. Hogan, a Republican. They oppose all major road construction, hope to trap the project in endless controversy. Many would prefer that the state devote all its transportation resources and energies to mass transit. In fact, the region’s long-term economic health and livability will require both. And while private-public partnerships do carry some risk, they also expand the political viability of expensive projects by avoiding tax increases. The region’s hundreds of thousands of commuters understand that. Local officials should consider their opinions.
马里兰州郊区的地方政客都是民主党人，他们提出了各种可能的反对意见，以阻碍共和党州长霍根的努力。他们反对一切主干道路建设，希望使工程陷入无休止的争论中。许多人希望该州将所有的交通资源和精力用于公共交通。事实上，该地区的长期经济健康和宜居性既需要公共交通，也需要州际交通。虽然PPP的确有一些风险，但其能够避免增税，扩大了昂贵项目的政治可行性。马里兰州成千上万的通勤者明白这一点。地方政府官员应该考虑他们的意见。