Whether trucks will be forced to use truck-only toll lanes on a newly widened Interstate 81 through Virginia now rests in the hands of Gov. Mark Warner.
Last week, the Virginia House of Delegates approved Senate amendments to a bill allowing for toll collection on commercial trucks - but not on passenger vehicles. The amendments are part of legislation that will allow a proposal to go forward to widen I-81 to eight lanes, reserving four lanes for trucks. Those lanes will likely be toll lanes.
The legislation drew the ire of the trucking industry, which said it amounts to double taxation on truck drivers. Trucking interests predict the measure will drive traffic to other, non-toll highways, and even out of the state.
The initial House bill dropped the truck toll provision, leaving it up to the Commonwealth Transportation Board whether to impose tolls to pay for the project.
A Warner spokeswoman told the Roanoke Times & World News that the governor "remains very supportive of the concept," but wants to review the legislation before deciding whether to sign it.
House Delegate Morgan Griffith said lawmakers may have to consider tax credits to help truckers offset the cost of tolls.
"We still think the trucks-only toll plan is outright unsafe for truck drivers, patently unfair to the trucking industry, and fiscally unsound for the taxpayers of Virginia," said a statement released by the American Trucking Associations. "Although we expected the package to clear the Virginia legislature, we're confident the plan will be stopped further down the line. There are more sensible and safer ways to fix the problems on I-81 and we'll be glad to participate in those discussions."
Last week, the Virginia House of Delegates approved Senate amendments to a bill allowing for toll collection on commercial trucks - but not on passenger vehicles. The amendments are part of legislation that will allow a proposal to go forward to widen I-81 to eight lanes, reserving four lanes for trucks. Those lanes will likely be toll lanes.
The legislation drew the ire of the trucking industry, which said it amounts to double taxation on truck drivers. Trucking interests predict the measure will drive traffic to other, non-toll highways, and even out of the state.
The initial House bill dropped the truck toll provision, leaving it up to the Commonwealth Transportation Board whether to impose tolls to pay for the project.
A Warner spokeswoman told the Roanoke Times & World News that the governor "remains very supportive of the concept," but wants to review the legislation before deciding whether to sign it.
House Delegate Morgan Griffith said lawmakers may have to consider tax credits to help truckers offset the cost of tolls.
"We still think the trucks-only toll plan is outright unsafe for truck drivers, patently unfair to the trucking industry, and fiscally unsound for the taxpayers of Virginia," said a statement released by the American Trucking Associations. "Although we expected the package to clear the Virginia legislature, we're confident the plan will be stopped further down the line. There are more sensible and safer ways to fix the problems on I-81 and we'll be glad to participate in those discussions."
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