By Michael Sluss

Archives Reprint

    RICHMOND - Over the objections of four Western Virginia lawmakers, a key House of Delegates committee endorsed legislation Thursday that could allow for tolls on all vehicles using Interstate 81, including passenger cars.

    The legislation (HB 905) is essential to one road-building consortium's plans for widening the interstate under the Virginia Public-Private Transportation Act. But the bill could face stiff opposition if it reaches the state Senate, which has been an obstacle to expanding tolling authority to cars.

    Fluor Virginia has developed a $7 billion plan to widen most of I-81 to six lanes and has proposed financing the project with tolls on all vehicles. A competing $13 billion plan from Star Solutions would widen the interstate to eight lanes, separate car and commercial truck traffic and impose tolls on trucks only.

    The General Assembly passed legislation in 2002 to permit tolling of trucks on I-81. Del. Leo Wardrup, R-Virginia Beach, said lawmakers can "level the playing field" by expanding tolling authority to include cars because the change would allow state transportation officials to consider both widening proposals. Wardrup emphasized that he has no preference between the two I-81 plans and knows few details about them.

    "It's just that I don't want to have our Department of Transportation, our administration and, quite frankly, the good work of this committee jeopardized by not being able to negotiate with a full bag of tools," said Wardrup, chairman of the House Transportation Committee and sponsor of the bill.

    The measure cleared the committee by a vote of 18-4. The committee's Western Virginia members - Republicans William Fralin of Roanoke, Chris Saxman of Staunton and Bill Carrico of Grayson County, and Democrat Jackie Stump of Buchanan County - voted against the bill.

    "The imposition of tolls on cars ought to be a last resort and it's not something we should take up before the proposals have been evaluated," Fralin said after the committee's vote. "We ought to have all the information in front if us."

    A VDOT advisory panel is evaluating the Fluor and Star Solutions plans and may make a recommendation to Secretary of Transportation Whitt Clement and VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet next week.

    Clement and Fluor representatives urged the House committee to approve the bill. Clement said Virginia will have a difficult time making significant improvements to I-81 in the near future without relying on alternative financing methods such as tolling, because state and federal funds are scarce.

    "This bill makes sense of a transportation professional's point of view," Clement said. "This gives us a wider array of options to address a corridor that we'll never be able to pay for ourselves."

    Fluor representative Bill Axselle said Wardrup's bill "is not about imposing tolls, it's about giving VDOT the flexibility."

    "We have a transportation crisis in Virginia - more than people realize," Axselle said.

    Saxman sponsored bills (HB 1345 and HB 1347) designed to strip away authority to toll any vehicles on I- 81, but the committee shelved both measures. Saxman said the tolls would place an unfair burden on Western Virginia businesses and motorists. Though disappointed by the committee's decisions, Saxman found some solace in the opposition to Wardrup's bill displayed by Western Virginia panel members.

    "It's a recognition that tolls on cars are not popular," Saxman said.

    If Wardrup's bill passes the House, it will face some spirited opposition from Western Virginia senators. Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol, has proposed an amendment to the state budget that would prohibit tolling passenger vehicles. Wampler two years ago inserted similar language in the current budget, which expires June 30. Wampler said Thursday that he opposes tolls on cars "with a passion."

    Sen. Brandon Bell , R-Roanoke County, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, also opposes tolling cars.

    House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, supports the Star Solutions plan, which would levy tolls on trucks only. But Griffith said lawmakers should pass Wardrup's bill so that VDOT can fairly evaluate both proposals.

    Asked how Western Virginia lawmakers can achieve consensus on the issue, Griffith shrugged and said, "We just need to get it done."

Let any elected or appointed official know what you think and how you feel by CLICKING HERE.