As the Arkansas Highway Commission considers using tolls to finance the North Belt Freeway, some are not too happy about the idea.
The proposed highway would to extend Interstate 440 from I-40 to I-430 across the northern part of Pulaski County.
According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, several of Arkansas' elected officials on Capitol Hill who were in the state Legislature when the 1991 highway improvement program was passed have spoken out against using tolls for this particular highway.
Republican U.S. Sen Rim Hutchinson and Democratic U.S. Reps. Vic Snyder and Mike Ross were all state legislators when the 15-year highway improvement program was passed that included the North Belt Freeway. All three remember supporting fuel tax increases in exchange for the Highway Commission's pledge to build the North Belt Freeway and other projects. When the bill was passed, tolls weren't part of the picture. The legislators say the commission should keep its promises and risks endangering its credibility with the Legislature.
But now state highway officials say that because of inflation, they can't build the $160 million highway anytime soon, unless Congress authorizes special funding for it or they go with the toll plan.
However, the legislators praised the idea of using tolls to finance construction of the Bella Vista Bypass in Northwest Arkansas. This highway and the North Belt Freeway were the only two projects the commission found could feasibly be built using tolls.
The proposed highway would to extend Interstate 440 from I-40 to I-430 across the northern part of Pulaski County.
According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, several of Arkansas' elected officials on Capitol Hill who were in the state Legislature when the 1991 highway improvement program was passed have spoken out against using tolls for this particular highway.
Republican U.S. Sen Rim Hutchinson and Democratic U.S. Reps. Vic Snyder and Mike Ross were all state legislators when the 15-year highway improvement program was passed that included the North Belt Freeway. All three remember supporting fuel tax increases in exchange for the Highway Commission's pledge to build the North Belt Freeway and other projects. When the bill was passed, tolls weren't part of the picture. The legislators say the commission should keep its promises and risks endangering its credibility with the Legislature.
But now state highway officials say that because of inflation, they can't build the $160 million highway anytime soon, unless Congress authorizes special funding for it or they go with the toll plan.
However, the legislators praised the idea of using tolls to finance construction of the Bella Vista Bypass in Northwest Arkansas. This highway and the North Belt Freeway were the only two projects the commission found could feasibly be built using tolls.
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