Michigan considering tolling I-94, I-96, I-75 and/or US-127

[Roadgeekteen]

RIP toll free Detroit-Chicago.

[kphoger]

RIP toll free Detroit-Chicago.

I doubt it.

[Flint1979]

RIP toll free Detroit-Chicago.

I don't see that happening at all.

[Roadgeekteen]

RIP toll free Detroit-Chicago.

I doubt it.

If I-94 is tolled the only toll free option would be on all two lane roads.

[ilpt4u]

RIP toll free Detroit-Chicago.

I doubt it.

If I-94 is tolled the only toll free option would be on all two lane roads.

Not really. Just pretty far out of the way to avoid the tolls while staying on 4-lane (or higher) highways, but doable.

Unless the toll rates are insanely high, probably not gonna be worth it in terms of time and fuel to shunpike something along the lines of US 30->I-69

[kphoger]

RIP toll free Detroit-Chicago.

I doubt it.

If I-94 is tolled the only toll free option would be on all two lane roads.

I meant I doubt I-94 in Michigan will be tolled.

[renegade]

Unless the toll rates are insanely high

Yeah, this is Michigan we're talking about here.  Of course the toll rates will be crazy.

[GaryV]

Unless the toll rates are insanely high

Yeah, this is Michigan we're talking about here.  Of course the toll rates will be crazy.

And then there will be a massive court fight over whether tolls are a form of taxes, and thus any implementation must be approved in a referendum.

It's just a study.  I'm sure those 4 roads specifically were not singled out as the only ones where tolls might be applied.  I agree, I-69 should be included as it's a potential shun-pike for Canada-bound trucks.

[aboges26]

Unless the toll rates are insanely high

Yeah, this is Michigan we're talking about here.  Of course the toll rates will be crazy.

And then there will be a massive court fight over whether tolls are a form of taxes, and thus any implementation must be approved in a referendum.

It's just a study.  I'm sure those 4 roads specifically were not singled out as the only ones where tolls might be applied.  I agree, I-69 should be included as it's a potential shun-pike for Canada-bound trucks.

Or maybe that is the route MDOT wants Canada-bound trucks to follow (I-69), possibly alleviating some truck traffic from Detroit. Although I am not sure who in their right mind would go through Detroit to begin with if they could take I-69, regardless of tolled I-94 or not.

[Flint1979]

I-94 isn't even the quickest route in to Detroit. Following M-14 to I-96 is quicker than taking I-94 or vice versa coming from Detroit. I-69 is indeed a long-distance bypass of Detroit. The only areas where you will find heavier traffic following I-69 is with the concurrency with I-96 around Lansing and near Flint.

[skluth]

RIP toll free Detroit-Chicago.

I doubt it.

If I-94 is tolled the only toll free option would be on all two lane roads.

Not really. Just pretty far out of the way to avoid the tolls while staying on 4-lane (or higher) highways, but doable.

Unless the toll rates are insanely high, probably not gonna be worth it in terms of time and fuel to shunpike something along the lines of US 30->I-69

US 30 -> US 24 -> I-75 would be easier. There's a lot of highway switches on the bypasses of Fort Wayne and Toledo, but it's all four lanes.

[rawmustard]

Or maybe that is the route MDOT wants Canada-bound trucks to follow (I-69), possibly alleviating some truck traffic from Detroit. Although I am not sure who in their right mind would go through Detroit to begin with if they could take I-69, regardless of tolled I-94 or not.

There are several trucking terminals in Detroit, thus why Detroit—Windsor is a much more heavily trafficked border crossing for trucks than Port Huron—Sarnia.

[Flint1979]

RIP toll free Detroit-Chicago.

I doubt it.

If I-94 is tolled the only toll free option would be on all two lane roads.

Not really. Just pretty far out of the way to avoid the tolls while staying on 4-lane (or higher) highways, but doable.

Unless the toll rates are insanely high, probably not gonna be worth it in terms of time and fuel to shunpike something along the lines of US 30->I-69

US 30 -> US 24 -> I-75 would be easier. There's a lot of highway switches on the bypasses of Fort Wayne and Toledo, but it's all four lanes.

That route only adds 46 miles and an hour and 10 minutes to the travel time. I think at that point I'd just rather pay the toll.

[kphoger]

There are several trucking terminals in Detroit, thus why Detroit—Windsor is a much more heavily trafficked border crossing for trucks than Port Huron—Sarnia.

Yep.  Moving truck traffic to another location doesn't really work if their dispatch operations remain where they are.  This is part of the reason the Camino Colombia Toll Road was such a flop in Texas.

[Flint1979]

Detroit-Windsor is pure hell for all vehicles. I think that's why the Ambassador Bridge doesn't have much of a life span left and already mentioned it'll at least have to have a massive overhaul done to it to keep it going.

Detroit or anywhere is difficult to bypass when your operations are there and most Chicago-Toronto traffic will most likely have a stop in Detroit as well and if not will use I-69 to ON-402 to ON-401. Wouldn't most traffic have a stop somewhere in or near Detroit though?

[ET21]

I could see US-127 but this is gonna be interesting to watch unfold. If I-94 gets tolled, yikes. That means I-80/90 and 94 will be competing for toll $$$

[MrManlet]

I could see US-127 but this is gonna be interesting to watch unfold. If I-94 gets tolled, yikes. That means I-80/90 and 94 will be competing for toll $$$

If tolls will be considered in MI, why not toll US-23 temporarily until the whole stretch between M-14 and I-96 is 6 laned? Would remove a lot of the traffic jams off that corridor.

[Flint1979]

 To

I could see US-127 but this is gonna be interesting to watch unfold. If I-94 gets tolled, yikes. That means I-80/90 and 94 will be competing for toll $$$

If tolls will be considered in MI, why not toll US-23 temporarily until the whole stretch between M-14 and I-96 is 6 laned? Would remove a lot of the traffic jams off that corridor.

That stretch needs at least 4 lanes in each direction. And you can go farther south to at least I-94 with that.

[US 89]

I wonder if Michigan realizes they lose federal funding if they toll existing general-purpose lanes on interstates.

[sprjus4]

I wonder if Michigan realizes they lose federal funding if they toll existing general-purpose lanes on interstates.

There's no dedicated funding source for interstate highways, and haven't been for over 20 years.

Not sure if that provision applies anymore with no more dedicated funding.

Either way, I'd be surprised if a tolling program is actually implemented. It's been discussed along other major corridors years ago in Virginia and North Carolina, and went nowhere.

[SectorZ]

I wonder if Michigan realizes they lose federal funding if they toll existing general-purpose lanes on interstates.

There's no dedicated funding source for interstate highways, and haven't been for over 20 years.

Not sure if that provision applies anymore with no more dedicated funding.

Either way, I'd be surprised if a tolling program is actually implemented. It's been discussed along other major corridors years ago in Virginia and North Carolina, and went nowhere.

The feds would likely just strip all federal highway funds, so even money they get helped with for non-interstate highways would go away.

[Flint1979]

It doesn't go without saying that the current governor of Michigan is one of the biggest idiots around and that's all I'm saying on that one.

[Terry Shea]

It doesn't go without saying that the current governor of Michigan is one of the biggest idiots around and that's all I'm saying on that one.

Well that goes without saying!

[Roadgeekteen]

It doesn't go without saying that the current governor of Michigan is one of the biggest idiots around and that's all I'm saying on that one.

Didn't your last one like ruin the water in Flint or something?

[Terry Shea]

It doesn't go without saying that the current governor of Michigan is one of the biggest idiots around and that's all I'm saying on that one.

Didn't your last one like ruin the water in Flint or something?

No, that was the Flint city council, but I think we're getting off subject here.