Truckers urged to speak out against I-95 toll plan in North Carolina

[Maria]

A heads up for truckers in North Carolina, the state DOT is proposing to rebuild Interstate 95 and use tolls to pay for it. The plan will cost billions and be done in phases. The public has an opportunity to comment during a series of public meetings in February. OOIDA leadership is urging members to let officials know truckers and their customers reject double taxation on I-95.

“This is going to have a bottom-line impact on their way of life with the addition of tolls,” said Ryan Bowley, OOIDA director of legislative affairs.

“Obviously the DOT is going to cater these meetings for residents of North Carolina, but even if you’re an out-of-state trucker and you’re in the area of where these meetings are taking place, try to go to one.”

The I-95 corridor from Maine to Florida is crucial to freight movement along the East Coast. Parts of I-95 were tolled prior to a federal moratorium on tolled interstates. A limited number of interstates can become toll roads through pilot programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration, but no state has made the conversion to date.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is attempting to obtain one of the slots in the tolling program. According to the agency’s preferred design for I-95, the roadway would be widened and reconstructed in phases using tolls. The agency plans to use all-electronic toll collection including an option that would take photos of license plates and issue invoices by mail to vehicle owners.

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[Vance]

My Speak Out Against-$4.4 Billion at who's cost? What are the fuel taxes that we(Trucking Co's)are paying, going to? Why are toll Rd's the worst maintained of all US Interstates? and what will be done about the Spring/Summer/Holiday/Weekend traffic during the enormous contruction project?