VA Gov McDonnell planning to toll I-95 at VA/NC border

[WillWeaverRVA]

http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=12457327

McDonnell Plans Border Toll

Tolls may be on the way to the Virginia-North Carolina border on Interstate 95.

Governor Bob McDonnell announced his administration took the first step to making such a toll a reality. McDonnell's office applied to toll I-95 to the Federal Highway Administration Monday.

"After a careful review of the Commonwealth's transportation needs, I believe the ability to toll Interstate 95 at the border will quickly enable the Commonwealth to begin addressing some of our greatest areas of concern," said McDonnell.

"Such user fees will help the Commonwealth generate the revenue necessary to make much needed infrastructure and safety improvements in the I-95 corridor to better serve the traveling public and increase economic productivity."

If approved, Virginia could charge between $1 and $2 per axle. McDonnell said that could generate between $30 and $60 million annually.

Stay with 8News for updates.


To be blunt, this is a bad idea. Not only is there public opposition to any new toll roads (I personally have no opinion), but there are exits within 4 miles of both sides of the border that would make such a toll extremely easy to dodge, much like the toll on I-95 near the DE/MD border. The state simply would not stand to profit much if at all, unless they're targeting truck traffic in the area.

[rawmustard]

To be blunt, this is a bad idea. Not only is there public opposition to any new toll roads (I personally have no opinion), but there are exits within 4 miles of both sides of the border that would make such a toll extremely easy to dodge, much like the toll on I-95 near the DE/MD border. The state simply would not stand to profit much if at all, unless they're targeting truck traffic in the area.

It looks as though McDonnell heard about the idea a few P-A legislators proposed, blatantly ignored the (correct) opposition to it, and thus somehow thinks it's a good idea for one of his state line crossings. It must be one of those things that because a politician proposed it, then bygolly it's worth taking a deep look into it.

[74/171FAN]

To be blunt, this is a bad idea. Not only is there public opposition to any new toll roads (I personally have no opinion), but there are exits within 4 miles of both sides of the border that would make such a toll extremely easy to dodge, much like the toll on I-95 near the DE/MD border. The state simply would not stand to profit much if at all, unless they're targeting truck traffic in the area.

It looks as though McDonnell heard about the idea a few P-A legislators proposed, blatantly ignored the (correct) opposition to it, and thus somehow thinks it's a good idea for one of his state line crossings. It must be one of those things that because a politician proposed it, then bygolly it's worth taking a deep look into it.

Actually I remember him stating the idea in his campaign along with also possibly tolling I-85 at the VA/NC line

[NJRoadfan]

Isn't tolling the sole reason Emporia exists? Don't see why one would toll I-85 though, traffic counts are low compared to I-95. VA got greedy for those federal $$$ back in the 50s, they could have built a Petersburg-Washington Turnpike and had no problem with funding.

[SP Cook]

Yet another politician that has not read the Law.

[agentsteel53]

Law.

the way you keep capitalizing that word is getting to be a bit disturbing.

authoritarianism doesn't need cheerleaders.

[J N Winkler]

I doubt these border tolls will be approved and I am not even sure McDonnell wants them to be, despite going through the motions of submitting an application.  I think this is basically an exercise in signalling--"If you don't agree to bonds or a tax increase, this is the sort of unpleasant stuff you can expect."

NC has tried the same (though perhaps not to the extent of sending an application to FHWA) and in their case I suspect the motivation was similar.

[hbelkins]

I have no problems with a state tolling a road that is used primarily by out-of-state traffic. If Virginia wants to use that toll revenue on I-95, which would free up money for use elsewhere that otherwise would have had to be spent on I-95, bully for them. I wouldn't mind seeing Kentucky toll I-24 to collect some revenue from the midwesterners who use that route to get to the beaches and to Florida. Anytime I'm on I-24, I see more cars from Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Iowa than I do from Kentucky.

[ShawnP]

Being from Missouri........hey now.

[froggie]

Not surprisingly, the state's trucking association is opposed to the idea...