Dulles Greenway

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The Dulles Greenway is a 14-mile, limited-access highway extending from the publicly-owned Dulles Toll Road - which carries traffic between Washington's Capital Beltway and Dulles Airport - to Leesburg. The two roads connect at a toll plaza. Drivers pay one toll, which the operators of the two facilities divide. The Greenway was privately financed and constructed from 1993 to 1995 and had an initial agreement to have operational responsibilities revert to the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2036. To finance the Greenway, the limited private partnership, TRIP II put up $40 million in equity, and secured $310 million in privately placed taxable debt. Ten institutional investors led by CIGNA Investments, Prudential Power Funding Associates, and John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company provided $258 million in long-term, fixed-rate notes (due in 2022 and 2026). Three banks (Barclays, NationsBank, and Deutsche Bank AG) agreed to provide part of the construction funding and $40 million in revolving credit. Loans were to be repaid with toll revenues, and the financing was secured by a first mortgage and security interest in the developer's right, title, and interest in the facility. When the Greenway opened in September 1995, traffic fell short of projected levels, and tolls were reduced. Users but not revenues increased. Tolls were increased in July 1997 and the Virginia General Assembly allowed the speed limit on the facility to be increased from 55 to 65 miles per hour. Still facing financial challenges, TRIP II restructured its debt in 1999 and agreed to an extension of the project. In 2001 the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) extended TRIP II's concession period for an additional 20 years to 2056. In September 2004 variable peak and discounted off-peak point-to-point rates were introduced to better manage peak period congestion. In August and September 2005 Macquarie Infrastructure Group (MIG, now Macquarie Atlas Roads) agreed to purchase TRIP II for $617.5 million. This included a payment of $84.5 million to Kellogg Brown & Root for its 13.3% share of the company, and $533 million to the Shenandoah Group, the family-owned company that held the remaining 86.7% of the company after having bought out Autostrade International's former 30% share in 2003. In December 2006, MIG completed the sale of 50% of its economic interest in the Dulles Greenway to Macquarie Infrastructure Partners (MIP), retaining a 50% economic interest in the Greenway. In early 2017, Macquarie Infrastructure Partners' share was sold back to Macquarie Atlas Roads for $445 million. The maximum toll schedule had been set by the SCC through 2012. From 2013 through to 2020 tolls can escalate annually at the higher of CPI plus 1%, real GDP, or 2.8% per annum. Post-2020 tolls are set by the SCC on application.

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