Initially, Virginia requested only one toll booth on I-95 at the VA/NC border. Now we learn that, at the Federal Highway Administration’s request, there be another toll plaza somewhere between Richmond and Fredericksburg. And that it’s possible the tolls nick people going each way:
“One of the concepts we were encouraged to look at was one location where you toll southbound but not northbound, and another location where you toll northbound but not southbound,” he said.
But it’s possible that the state will opt for two tolls in each direction, meaning drivers passing through Virginia would pay twice, he said.
Connaughton said that the state would prefer open-road tolling — a system of collections that does not require vehicles to stop — which would prevent heavy congestion and reduce long-term operating costs.
The proposal will be under study and open to public comment for about a year and a half. Looking at the calendar, that would put the decision on where to locate the toll booths being made right around the time the 2013 gubernatorial races begin to heat up…and, possibly, after Gov. McDonnell has taken up residence in the Naval Observatory. But no actual toll will be collected for nearly three years…and how much those tolls might be ranges from $2 for cars to $10 for semis.
In other words, Mr. Connaughton, who for a while was quite keen on a gas tax hike, will be gone as well. But by setting the toll policy in motion, he will have fulfilled, through other means and on a much longer time table, his promise to the commonwealth’s road builders to find a new revenue source.
