Daily News Briefs, May 16, 2024

Details Of Hampton Roads Toll Relief Program Emerge

WAVY reports, Virginia drivers from five municipalities in the Hampton Roads area who earn less than $50,000 per year will be eligible for up to 14 free trips per week through the Downtown and Midtown tunnels under a state toll relief program that’s received $101 million in FY 2025 funding. The appropriation was included in the biennial state budget signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) on Monday. The program also provides some oll debt forgiveness and free E-ZPass transponders for the eligible drivers. “In addition, the commissioner of Virginia Department of Transportation is directed to study the cost and feasibility of how to make an HOV toll-free option available in the future.” Elizabeth River Crossings, which operates the tunnels, currently funds a 50 percent discount for drivers earning less than $65,000 per year. The company’s concession contract doesn’t expire until 2070 and allows for annual rate increases. Influential State Senator Louise Lucas (D-18), whose district is part of the region, is reportedly aiming to eliminate tolling altogether, an action that would cost an estimated $2 billion.

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North Carolina Senate Advances Bill Affecting Toll Fees, Tree Cutting And Construction Deadlines

“A [North Carolina] Senate committee voted unanimously Tuesday to allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to hike toll road late fees by 50%, to allow billboard companies to cut down more trees along the side of the road, and to extend deadlines for hundreds of millions of dollars worth of road construction projects,” WRAL reports. (TRN previously reported on the late fee increase proposal.) This article provides some detail on the proposal included in House Bill 198 to loosen tree cutting restrictions. Billboard companies could seek permits to cut within 500 feet of billboards, up from 380 feet. No permits would be required for tree cutting within 200 feet. “Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a similar bill in 2019, so it raised some eyebrows when the changes showed up in the list of legislative requests from one of the administration’s biggest departments. Transportation officials say other people were responsible for putting those changes into the bill, and that they aren’t taking an official stance on the billboard issue, either for or against.”

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Galveston, Texas, Causeway Seriously Damaged By Barge Strike

KTRK reports, Pelican Island, part of Galveston, Texas, “is cut off for a second day” after a barge crashed into a pillar of the causeway yesterday, causing significant structural damage. The span is only surface route on and off the island. It has “reopened at times to let some cars exit the island and head to Galveston, though no one was allowed to enter. Officials say it’s unlikely they’ll be able to get back on the island anytime soon.” No personal injuries have been reported. The barge, which broke loose from a tugboat, was transporting “vacuum gas oil,” some of which spilled into the bay. A Galveston County official stated an effort to replace the causeway, built in 1960, has been underway for about 10 years. “My concern is that they are going to deem the bridge unusable, which would not be a surprise. It was in bad shape before this accident, and that’s going to cause some significant disruptions to Pelican Island,” he added.

The Daily News and Associated Press also cover this story.

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These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.

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