Posted on 01/28/2019 10:16:25 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb will not take action to toll Indiana's interstate highways during his tenure in office, a decision that a key Region lawmaker believes betrays the goals of the state road funding plan Holcomb enacted last spring.
The Republican chief executive on Thursday transmitted to the State Budget Committee an interstate tolling plan crafted by the Indiana Department of Transportation, as required by House Enrolled Act 1002 sponsored by state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso.
The plan details how the state could collect approximately $15 billion for road improvements between 2024 and 2045 by imposing tolls of up to 7 cents per mile for cars, and up to 38 cents per mile for semi-trailer trucks, on Interstate 94 in Northwest Indiana and Interstates 65 and 70 across the length and width of the state.
But in a letter to lawmakers accompanying the report, Holcomb said there currently is no need for interstate tolling, as the fuel tax and vehicle registration fee increases approved last year by the Republican-controlled General Assembly are enough to sustain the state's current road construction blitz.
"Therefore, I will not move forward with a plan to toll Indiana's interstate highways," Holcomb said.
At the same time, Holcomb urged lawmakers to keep the tolling plan handy, since "I do not want to foreclose a successor from considering tolling as an option for infrastructure improvements."
Holcomb said to that end INDOT still is permitted to seek the federal approvals required to initiate interstate tolling, even though it won't be implemented on his watch.
Soliday condemned Holcomb's decision to postpone a tolling start until potentially 2025, when a second Holcomb term would end, and suggested that "maybe he needs a successor sooner rather than later."
(Excerpt) Read more at nwitimes.com ...
PING!
Hmmmm..in typical pol actions, look for tolls to increase 01FEB19
What’s with the trend to put tolls on interstate highways?
Don’t we all pay registration fees and gas taxes, to pay for the ongoing maintenance?
Don’t trucks get assessed fees at the weigh stations? Plus the trucks pay the taxes on gas and diesel fuel as well.
Is someone looking for additional sources of revenue?
Is there any correlation between road maintenance expenses, and the taxes we already pay, which are theoretically dedicated to those expenses???
Ind., the State between Mich. and Ill. that allows Studded Tires?
Ind. has some funky Diesel car taxes.
I NEVER buy Diesel there.
Non-Alcoholic Gas? Purely avaliable.
“I do not want to foreclose a successor from considering tolling as an option for infrastructure improvements.”
He only said that because he hates Democrats.
(thanks for the pings, Tol)
“What’s with the trend to put tolls on interstate highways?”
Have you ever seen a tax, fee or toll politicians didn’t love?
“Don’t we all pay registration fees and gas taxes, to pay for the ongoing maintenance?”
Registration fees are now not generally used for infrastructure. Just another fee greedy politicians collect to support the bureaucracy and their own lifestyles.
“Don’t trucks get assessed fees at the weigh stations? Plus the trucks pay the taxes on gas and diesel fuel as well.”
Trucks are assessed fees and taxed up the wazoo by every state. Believe me, if cars paid the same fees and taxes only the 1% would have cars, everyone else would walk or ride bikes.
“Is someone looking for additional sources of revenue?
Is there any correlation between road maintenance expenses, and the taxes we already pay, which are theoretically dedicated to those expenses???”
Correlation? Surely you jest.
Bill Clinton was the poster boy for diverting highway funds.
When he left Arkansas I-40 was probably the worst highway in the country. He took highway funds and diverted them into social programs to buy the gibsmedat vote.
I-40 was in such bad shape I would stop before entering Arkansas and take my tv, DVD player and microwave out of their straps and put them on the bunk and secure them with the mesh designed to keep sleeping riders from bouncing about. If it wasn’t bolted down it WOULD end up in the floor.
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