Tom Warne Report, 2 February 2013
Virginia lawmakers from both parties are pushing for more say in the governor’s effort to impose toll taxes on existing highways in the state. Current state law gives Gov. Bob McDonnell the authority to request federal permission to toll existing roadways without getting Legislative approval. Plans to toll I-95 in Sussex County are awaiting final approval from the Federal Highway Administration. As many as five bills are waiting to be considered by lawmakers to require General Assembly approval before I-95 or any other existing interstate could be tolled. High-Occupancy toll lanes would not be applied to the rule.
Delegate Chris Peace, R-Hanover, proposed one such bill, HB2196, which he said is designed to give lawmakers the final say in tolls. “Issues related to transportation go through the General Assembly, except for the governor’s current proposal,” Peach said at a recent news conference. “We need to bring the subject of tolls back to its proper place.”
Separate similar bills have been introduced by Sen. Don McEachin, D-Hanover ; Sen. Stephen Martin, R-Chesterfield and Delegate Roslyn Tyler, D-Jarratt. HB2129 proposed by Delegate Lionel Spruill, D-Chesapeake, applies to interstates, primary or secondary roads.
The group of legislators sent a letter to the state’s congressional delegation urging them to ask the FHWA not to approve the I-95 tolling request. They said that tolling the roadway would result in up to 40 percent of traffic to divert to local roads, and that those roads are “ill-equipped to handle increased traffic, leading to increased congestion and safety risks in local community.”