Good police work allows toll protest but prevents threatened obstruction on WV Turnpike

Good police work on the West Virginia Turnpike allowed a trio of politicians to stage a publicity generating protest against toll increases while preventing threatened obstruction. The politicians state house delegates Clif Moore (Dem), John Shott  (Rep) and Mike Porter (Rep) got to display protest placards in the median of the Turnpike and to be photographed and interviewed by reporters near the southern or Ghent Toll Plaza.  After 40 minutes the pols and their media retinue was told by police their time was up and they were escorted to their cars in the staff parking lot and sent on their way.

Midnight Friday night the Turnpike implemented toll increases.

Moore had threatened to block toll lanes with his car as a protest but plenty of police were on hand to prevent him. Lieutenant Larry Bailes of the West Virginia Police Turnpike Detachment told reporters bluntly: "I will not let anyone block the road."

One pol who pulled over to the right shoulder was immediately ordered to join the temporary protest "compound" set up by police in the grassy median.

Top cop on the spot, Lt Bailes, said safety and smooth functioning of the toll plaza were his concern.

Moore who had threatened most vociferously to block toll operations was happy displaying his sign about the toll rates: "Unfair Unforgettable Unforgivable". He attracted toots of approval from some passing motorists.

Local press reported Moore: "We’re just exercising our rights of free speech. You can see by my friends and my brothers here with me that this is not a black or white issue or a Democrat-Republican issue. It’s a right and wrong issue. We’re right and they’re wrong."

Other protesting politicians talked vehemently and vaguely about the "unfairness" of the toll increases, and the burdens they would place on working people, and small trucking firms.

For the Turnpike it was just a green issue - the need to generate funds to sustain operations and make urgently needed repairs to the toll road.

Toll rates in force until last weekend's increases were set in 1981, since when the purchasing power of that dollar has declined to about 40c.

Nominal toll rates increased by 60% ($1.25 to $2.00 at mainline plazas) but deep local discounts were introduced to reduce the impact on locals. Locals can also get unlimited usage passes.

Toll revenues were forecast by Wilbur Smith Associates to rise around 37% - from $53m/yr to $73m/yr - following the increases. This is based on a forecast decline in traffic at the toll plazas in response to the toll increases of 9%, suggesting a weighted average toll increase of around 41%.

BACKGROUND: The West Virginia Turnpike was an expensive-to-build crossing through the Appalachian Mountain range. 142km (88 miles) long and running southeast to northwest it gets two streams of interstate traffic through the mountains: I-77 and I-64.

It has only three barrier toll plazas and one ramp plaza and given 18 interchanges about three quarters of travel on it is toll free.

Traffic as measured by toll transactions has been rather stagnant at around annual average daily 95k since 2004. It is a major trucking route with trucks constituting 20% of the traffic at toll plazas. Truck toll revenues slightly exceed tolls from cars.

West Virginia remains a poorer than average state, unattractive to business and with stagnant or slightly declining population. Fortunately the Turnpike serves more vital areas to the east and south, notably Virginia and the Carolinas and it is their gateway to the mid-west, and the mid-west's major route to the east coast.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-08-03