- Connecticut House Speaker: State's Tolling of Highways Is "Inevitable"
- Florida Bill Would Block Construction of New Express Toll Lanes
- Virginia Governor Proposes to Restrict ERC's Use of Vehicle Registration Holds
- Maine's Governor Suggests Eliminating MTA and Most Tolls, but That's Easier Said Than Done
- Tolling Is an Option, but Not a First Choice for Louisiana Replacement Bridge
- TxDOT Proposes Funding for Construction of SH 71 Overpass Bridges
- NYSBA Unveils Favorable Audit Report and Increased Annual T&R Figures
- Latest Dulles Greenway Toll Increase Is Now in Effect
- Ontario Sets Contract Value of Highway 427 Expansion Project at $460.8 Million USD
- "Transit Sam" Sees Traffic Congestion and Diversion Resulting from MTA's Recent Toll Increase
- Bestpass Introduces LETS, a Toll Management Service for Leased Equipment Providers
- VDOT Shares Early Details of Planned I-95 Express Lanes Extension
- Ohio Turnpike Survey Reveals Motorists Favor Removal of Toll Gates
- Germany Adopts Controversial Toll Plan That Could Stall or Change (You Be the Judge)
- KTA Staffer Recognized for Paying Firefighters' Tolls
This is a Subscribers-Only area. If you are a subscriber, please login. If not...
Become a Subscriber Today »
Connecticut House Speaker: State's Tolling of Highways Is "Inevitable"
Hartford Courant reports, “Saying it is ‘absolutely insane” to continue allowing out-of-state drivers to cut through Connecticut for free, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz said Thursday [March 23] that highway tolls are ‘inevitable.’” During a sit-down with the newspaper’s editorial board, Aresimowicz also said, “Tolls are coming. They’re not going to be border tolls. They will be all over the place,” and both a state income tax credit for commuters to out-of-state jobs and a toll discount for transponder holders will be made available.
ConnecticutFlorida Bill Would Block Construction of New Express Toll Lanes
WUSF reports, “A bill [SB 250] that would eliminate building toll lanes on existing free interstate highways has moved through the transportation committee of the Florida Senate.” The author, Senator Frank Artiles (R-Miami), “says charging tolls to avoid congestion is unfair to low-income drivers.” FDOT claims the bill, if passed, would cost the state $170 million dollars per year over ten years. Artiles reckons the state’s loss at $53 million per year.
Express Lanes Florida Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)Virginia Governor Proposes to Restrict ERC's Use of Vehicle Registration Holds
Associated Press reports that Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has proposed budget amendment that would cap Elizabeth River Tunnel toll debt at $2,200 for a first-time scofflaw. AP says the measure “would essentially close a loophole. Currently, [ERC] can charge unlimited fees to violators while the DMV withholds their registration. The proposal would require the firm to offer a settlement capped at $2,200 before the DMV can take action.”
The Virginian-Pilot reports that the governor already has legislative support for his proposal.
Elizabeth River Tunnels Scofflaws VirginiaMaine's Governor Suggests Eliminating MTA and Most Tolls, but That's Easier Said Than Done
Portland Press Herald reports, “The idea of doing away with the Maine Turnpike Authority and eliminating tolls has a long and unsuccessful history through both Democratic and Republican administrations.” The newspaper observes that if Governor Paul LePage is serious about merging the turnpike authority and MDOT, and eliminating most highway tolls, the “loss of revenue and the debt the state would absorb stand in the way.”
Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maine Turnpike AuthorityTolling Is an Option, but Not a First Choice for Louisiana Replacement Bridge
KSLA reports that Louisiana’s transportation secretary, Shawn Wilson, issued a statement about the Jimmie Davis Bridge replacement project, saying “decisions on funding have not been finalized. ‘Tolling is not my first choice, nor would it be the only choice as a funding option for the Jimmie Davis Bridge. But I also have to take into consideration sustainability and the maintenance costs for the thousands of bridge structures we have across our state.”
Louisiana Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD)TxDOT Proposes Funding for Construction of SH 71 Overpass Bridges
KXAN reports that TxDOT wants the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization to consider adding funding for two SH 71 overpass bridges that would “improve mobility by allowing SH 71 thru-traffic to move in the area without stopping at the signal lights.” A TxDOT spokesperson explains why the overpass construction wasn’t part of the recently opened SH 71 Toll Lane project.
Express Lanes Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)NYSBA Unveils Favorable Audit Report and Increased Annual T&R Figures
Poughkeepsie Journal reports, “The New York State Bridge Authority has received a clean bill of health from auditors for its strong financial management and maintaining of facilities, according to a statement from the NYSBA. . . . The results of the audit, announced at a recent NYSBA Board of Commissioners meeting, ‘confirm that the Bridge Authority is in strong financial shape and has done an outstanding job of maintaining its facilities,’ said Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero.” He also reported to commissioners that NYSBA traffic and revenue numbers increased in 2016, as did authority sales of E-ZPass tags.
E-ZPass New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA)Latest Dulles Greenway Toll Increase Is Now in Effect
LoudounNow.com reports, “Commuters on the Dulles Greenway are paying more for their congestion-free, cross-county trips. With little fanfare, new rate hikes went into effect March 2, one day after the State Corporation Committee signed off on the General Assembly-mandated annual increases for the privately-owned highway.” The article adds that the toll road concession company, TRIP II, reported that “increasing traffic on the highway boosted revenues to $92 million in 2016, with profits up 8.8 percent.”
Dulles Greenway Toll Rate Changes Toll Road Investors Partnership II (TRIP II) Washington (DC) Metro RegionOntario Sets Contract Value of Highway 427 Expansion Project at $460.8 Million USD
Daily Commercial News reports, “Contract details have been released for the fixed-priced contract to design, build, finance and maintain the Highway 427 expansion project, which was awarded to LINK 427 earlier this year. [Link inserted.] The contract value of the project is approximately $616 million [US$460.8 million]. . . .”
Canada Ontario"Transit Sam" Sees Traffic Congestion and Diversion Resulting from MTA's Recent Toll Increase
The Downtown Express “Transit Sam” column observes, “Now that Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel tolls have gone up, we’re seeing more traffic divert to the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, affecting Lower Manhattan. If you use the tunnel, you’ll see longer lines for cash payment. That’s because the transaction time for the new $8.50 toll is a lot longer than for the old $8 toll.” (Making change takes time.) The column also notes, “Longer lines mean more people shift to untolled bridges.”
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York CityBestpass Introduces LETS, a Toll Management Service for Leased Equipment Providers
Bestpass announced its launch of “Leased Equipment Toll Solution (LETS), a customizable toll management service for leased equipment providers, including not only tractors and trailers, but also other vehicles of all shapes and sizes.” Bestpass says tolling authorities will also see benefits from LETS, namely “a reduction in violations and a guarantee in payment through their existing relationship with Bestpass, which last year processed more than $450 million in toll.”
BestpassVDOT Shares Early Details of Planned I-95 Express Lanes Extension
The Free Lance-Star covers a public update event on VDOT’s study of a ten-mile, I-95 Express Lanes extension (dubbed “FredEx” to distinguish it from a shorter extension now under construction). According to the article, VDOT’s study is in its early phases and few planning details will become available until another hearing in the fall. The newspaper adds that, if approved and funded, project construction could start in 2019. Project information and the meeting presentation are available on the VDOT website.
Transurban Virginia Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)Ohio Turnpike Survey Reveals Motorists Favor Removal of Toll Gates
“Customer Connection”, the Ohio Turnpike’s monthly newsletter, has the results of an authority survey on removing tollbooth gates. Roughly ninety percent of respondents (E-ZPass customers, AAA members and “other stakeholders) favored removal, although favorability drops in a scenario where a toll rate increase accompanies the removal. The article lists several toll lane configuration options the turnpike and its consultants now plan to study.
Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure CommissionGermany Adopts Controversial Toll Plan That Could Stall or Change (You Be the Judge)
Handelsblatt (subscription required for full access) carried an exclusive report overnight that the German parliament’s ruling party “is debating a new proposal for a road toll which would require all drivers to pay to use German roads. . . . It would replace a controversial predecessor, not yet in place, which led neighboring European countries to threaten law suits.”
However, Reuters reports this morning that “Germany’s Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, agreed [today, Friday] to introduce a road toll for cars registered abroad with prices linked to environmental criteria.” This toll plan is the one that Germany revised after the European Union complained that its original version was discriminatory and in violation of EU rules. According to Reuters, it faces potential political and legal obstacles to enforcement within Germany.
GermanyKTA Staffer Recognized for Paying Firefighters' Tolls
Hiawatha Daily World publishes a shout-out to Kansas Turnpike employee Heather Kord of Wichita, who paid the tolls of Hiawatha firefighters responding to a county mutual aid call.
Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA)