Alexandria, Va. – The operator of the 495 and 95 Express Lanes will donate the value of all tolls collected on Saturday, March 21, 2015, to the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, Prince William County Fire and Rescue, and Stafford County Fire and Rescue.
The donation is part of its “Drive to Donate” program, an initiative designed to give back to local fire and rescue organizations that put their lives on the line to keep the communities surrounding the Express Lanes safe, both on and off of the road.
To participate and give back to area first responders, all drivers need to do is drive on the Express Lanes with an E-ZPass properly mounted in their vehicle on March 21.
“As safety is a top priority on the Express Lanes, we want to give back and support those who keep us safe each and every day,” said Jennifer Aument, North American Group General Manager for Transurban, which operates the Express Lanes. “We strive to be a good neighbor and long-term partner to our customers and the community, and we believe in supporting those who impact our lives for the better. We hope drivers choose to travel on the 495 and 95 Express Lanes on March 21 to help us support those who keep us safe on and off the roads.”
Drivers should remember to travel with their E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex properly mounted in their vehicle. To help increase donations to a good cause, drivers who typically travel HOV-3+ on the Express Lanes can consider paying a toll on March 21 by switching their E-ZPass Flex from HOV mode to toll mode.
“Drive to Donate reminds everyone to drive safely,” said Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Chief, Richard Bowers, “The program will help emergency response personnel provide safety equipment, safe response and scene operations.”
Mike Wendt, president of Fairfax County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, continued, “Donations from the Express Lanes will help us purchase critical equipment that has been proven to save lives. The career and volunteer personnel of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department depend on partnerships with organizations like Transurban to provide the best possible service to the community.”
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The Fairfax County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association is a partnership of 12 volunteer fire and rescue departments in Fairfax County, Va. Learn more about the Association at www.fcvfra.org. (3/8/2015)