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.
The tolls on hwy 44 were dropped when it became I-264 in Va Bch.
Even the military vehicles?
And the Purchase Parkway in western KY.
False. In southeastern Virginia, the former Virginia Beach Expressway (a toll road) is now "free"; likewise the Midtown Tunnel and Downtown Tunnel were once toll facilities, now are "free".
It does NOT cost as much as they collect to keep it in good repair.
Your expertise on this matter is ... what?
I think NOT. I’m a native North Carolinian, and I know ways AROUND such stupidity. AS IF I-95 isn’t SLOW ENOUGH!!!
It's long gone.
The SR-520 floating bridge between Seattle and Bellevue was tolled until it was paid off. I have a postcard from many decades ago showing the tollbooths. There is no hint today that they were ever there.
You’ll be happy to know that you got a bargain. No more quarters, the tolls are 4 to 9 dollars a pop and it seems like they are only a couple of miles apart.
I guess that makes one in a row.
They’ve been doing this on the northern stretch of I-95 in New Jersey since before I was born. Since North Carolina is now New Jersey South, why should we be surprised?
Sounds good to me!
Also, I-95 between Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia (aka the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike); the tolls came off that stretch of 95 a while back. I was surprised they actually did it, as there are several other bridges and short connector highways in the Richmond area (VA 76/Powhite Parkway, VA 895 between I-95 and the Richmond International Airport, the Boulevard Bridge) that still have tolls on them and probably always will.
}:-)4
Our highway department in one sentence.
Joe sixpack is scolded about living within his means, elected officials are above that as they just want to increase taxes for their reckless spending habits.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.