Posted on 03/31/2010 8:06:04 AM PDT by Willie Green
Tolling and public-private partnerships are on the table in North Carolina as state officials look into improving Interstate 95.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently hired two consulting firms, PBS&J and Baker Engineering – at a cost of $6.4 million – to evaluate the state’s 182 miles of I-95 and to develop recommendations for financing. The report, titled “I-95 Corridor Planning and Finance Study,” is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2011.
“Renewing I-95 through upgrades and widening is an expensive process, and NCDOT is researching both traditional and non-traditional methods of funding as part of this financial model, including the State Highway Fund, tolling, a local option sales tax, public-private partnerships, and others,” NCDOT officials stated in preliminary documents.
An NCDOT spokeswoman said the state will begin public outreach in the coming days with the launch of a new Web site carrying the theme “Driving 95: What’s Your View?”
Public input sessions and hearings have yet to be announced.
I-95 was built and is currently maintained with federal and state tax dollars, a large portion of which comes from truckers. Before the roadway could be tolled, North Carolina would need to obtain tolling authority from the Federal Highway Administration.
I-95 from Maine to Florida is part of the FHWA’s Corridors of the Future program instituted in 2005. That program gives priority to a short list of nationally significant projects eligible for innovative financing methods including tolling.
Also related to funding, North Carolina recently received $2 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to rehabilitate seven miles of I-95 in Johnston County, according to the FHWA.
PA is starting to talk about tolls on I-80 as well. Anything but cutting spending, as usual.
Tolls established never go away. Ask yourself why the Golden Gate Bridge toll is still in place. It does NOT cost as much as they collect to keep it in good repair.
Same going on here in PA with I-80.
I can still remember why gasoline is taxed when you buy it at the pump ...
“TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN ROADS.”
They can call it the John Edwards Shafting Highway.
I-30 between Dallas and Ft Worth.
On August 27, 1957 the highway was open to traffic, but the official opening came a week later on September 5. The turnpike's presence stimulated growth in Arlington and Grand Prairie and facilitated construction of Six Flags Over Texas. On December 31, 1977, the bonds were paid off and the freeway was handed over to the state Department of Transportation, toll collection ceased, and the tollbooths were removed during the following week.
I have entirely mixed feelings on this. I despise toll roads unless they offer some great benefit such as higher speed limits or more controlled access.
However, last year I traveled from NC to New Hampshire for a wedding and was shocked at the amount of toll charges on I-95 after you went north of DC.
Now I wonder why we let the yankees travel back and forth from their hell-holes up north to Florida and back for nothing when they gladly charge everyone else a king’s ransom to get from here to there.
State lotteries - To fix roads and reduce property taxes.
Well at least they aren’t thinking about some boondogle like building trains.
They do sometimes....the Merrit Pwy in CT was a toll road for many many yrs but that was dropped.
Blue State needs a scheme to suck money out of the people's wallets, to pay for "State freeloader social Programs."
Kidding aside not one American does not benefit from the highways. Most all goods use the roads. But with toll roads the users pay a larger share of the cost per vehicle and even if this cost is passed on to the non drivers in the form of goods each of those share will be minimal. Drivers, screwed again.
Bingo, we road trip to Florida several times a year from Baltimore, MD. The only tolls we pay are getting out of Baltimore on 95. After that its smooth sailing... Matter of fact leaving this Sunday for another roadtrip to Florida... cant wait!
Suggested Tolls:
North Carolina residents FREE
All other states residents FREE
Postal Vehicles FREE
All other US Government vehicle $1,000,000 per mile!
That's been true for a long, long time. The first time I ever traveled north in 1962 I had to keep shoveling quarters into toll booths.
NC has one of the highest state gas taxes in the nation. State pols raided the highway fund long ago for other pet projects....
I’ve driven on that highway and the only problem with it is the 65mph speed limit.
That and to pay for consultants to advise them on doing dumb things like toll roads....
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