Virginia wants to toll I-95

Virginia wants to toll I-95    Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell earlier this month asked the U.S. Department of Transportation for permission to collect tolls on Interstate 95 near the North Carolina border instead of on I-81, more than 100 miles to the west.
   I-95 is one of the most heavily traveled highways in the country and is a major north-south artery for truck transportation. The Virginia Department of Transportation estimates that tolling the north-south highway can generate $30 million to $60 million per year with tolls set at $1 to $2 per axle.

McDonnell

   The state has permission to install truck-only toll lanes on I-81 under a federal pilot program that permits a limited number of states to try tolling on federal interstates to raise money for improvements. The interstate pilot program requires states to use toll receipts to improve the highway on which the tolls were collected and not for other roadways in the state. That condition derailed Pennsylvania's recent request to toll I-80 because it wanted to use the money to fund other transportation projects.
   The I-81 toll lane project was stalled by historic preservation concerns and local opposition. It was unable to pass a Federal Highway Administration environmental review and would have required the state to start over with planning the project, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton said in a brief interview.
   Virginia officials said they planned to immediately use toll proceeds to make safety improvements, and then repair pavement and structures on I-95. The poor condition of the infrastructure, they said, contributes to one of the highest accident rates of all major transportation corridors in the state. Long-term plans call for adding extra lanes to portions of the highway.

Connaughton

   Connaughton told the Washington Post the decision to locate a toll facility near the North Carolina border was made because most of the traffic there is interstate, sparing many Virginians from the fee. If the request is approved, it would be 18 to 24 months before toll collection could begin.
   Virginia has cut billions of dollars from its transportation budget the past two years because of low tax revenues. States are looking for alternative funding schemes as contributions from the federal government decline along with falling gas tax receipts. McDonnell promised during his campaign not to raise taxes to cover transportation budget shortfalls and instead has proposed measures such as public-private partnerships and selling the state's liquor stores to raise money for transportation.
   In other recent surface transportation developments, VDOT issued a new request for proposals for a private investment group to build and operate a new Route 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk. The road is a high priority for the state because it will serve as an emergency and hurricane evacuation route and ease the movement of truck traffic in and out of the Port of Virginia in Hampton Roads.
   In late April, McDonnell approved the immediate sale of $500 million worth of transportation bonds, as part of a $2.2 billion bond initiative to improve transportation infrastructure under the states six-year plan. Legislation authorizing the borrowing was enacted in 2007.
      The money will be combined with other funding to advance projects such as truck-climbing lanes on I-81 near Staunton and Salem, bridge rehabilitations on I-95 near Richmond, and several new interchanges. ' Eric Kulisch