Posted on 05/08/2018 11:17:12 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) Lawmakers are searching for a solution to traffic and accidents on Interstate 81.
One bill introduced by Senator Mark Obenshain proposes conducting a study of the effects of adding tolls for long haul trucks. The money from the tolls would go toward improving the interstate through Virginia.
Senate Bill 971 passed the Virginia Senate unanimously, passed the House on a 95-3 vote with an amendment by Del. Tony Wilt, and then was agreed upon by both chambers.
On April 4, Governor Ralph Northam signed the bill into law.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has reported a 12% increase in traffic on I-81 around Harrisonburg in the past five years, and delays have increased by 55%.
Widening the road would cost and estimated 10 to 15 million dollars for every mile of pavement, according to VDOT.
Virginia lawmakers overwhelmingly supported Obenshain's bill to study truck tolls along I-81.
"We're gonna look at tolls on long haul, heavy trucks that travel the length of Virginia, and explore whether that can be done in a manner that isn't going to hurt our economy," said Obenshain.
Amy Funk is the owner of JKC Transport in Broadway.
"I think tolls need to be imposed on everyone, not just the trucks," said Funk.
JKC Transport has been in business for nineteen years.
"We travel the I-81 route every day."
JKC Transport includes five drivers, who travel around Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
"A toll in Pennsylvania can be anywhere from $48 to $78," said Funk.
She believes tolls wouldn't just affect truck drivers.
(Excerpt) Read more at whsv.com ...
"I think tolls need to be imposed on everyone, not just the trucks," said Funk.
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Were the majority of accidents truck related? I find that unlikely. Truckers should stop delivering to any area within 75 miles of DC. Those idiots need to know their drivers car keys, their shoes, the door to their houses, their phones and private servers were all on trucks starting with the raw materials. Then more time on trucks for distribution.
Problems on I-81 are when trucks fly at ~80 mph on the flat or downhill, then try to pass each other going up hills when some of the loaded trucks can barely keep it above 50 mph.
They could reduce accidents effectively by posting it no trucks in the fast lane, like is in place for I-26 and I-40 through Asheville NC and Southeastern TN mountain areas, and enforce that and the speed limit.
But that wouldn’t bring more revenue to the Dems.
Nah - just fine the trucks that stack up across the lanes and hold everyone else back....that would generate a lot of money for a year or so until they got the message that pulling into the left lane on a hill w/o the ability or apparent attention to pass, holding traffic up for 5 miles, then pulling back in behind the vehicle you originally got ‘away’ from is a discourteous irritant.
Harrisonburg, VA is where I learned to STOP for the car stopping ahead of me on any I-81 on-ramp, right where the ramp meets the interstate. That was back in the late 1980’s. In the 1990’s, it became all trucks, all the time. I-95 is safer for anything smaller than an 18 wheeler.
I figured it was only a matter of time before divide-and-conquer. If you can’t get tolls on everyone, start with trucks, as no one will defend them. Obviously the next step is to then add cars...and see how much luck they have when trucks aren’t there lobbying in their favor.
Kind of like the old saying: “First they came for...”/
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“I think tolls need to be imposed on everyone, not just the trucks,” said Funk.
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(1) The congestion and accidents cannot be due entirely to trucks, so the burden of a fix should not fall entirely on trucks.
(2) If the fix is cost effective, it will save money an time-value that exceeds the cost of the fix. Determinations like that are a proper function of state governments under our federal system.
I guess having dozens of speed traps didnt generate enough money.
We drive from Kansas to Northern Virginia for the holidays every year. Consistently, the worst section of driving is on I-81 from Lexington to I-66. The truck density is really high on I-81. Trucks have a hard time maintaining a constant speed on the hilly terrain which makes them obstacles for the cars that can maintain a constant speed. I-81 definitely needs another lane or two in some places to facilitate current traffic loads.
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