The American Trucking Associations said it applauds the Virginia Department of Transportation for withdrawing from plans to build tolled truck-only lanes on Interstate 81.

“We’re pleased that VDOT has changed its direction and moved away from tolled truck lanes,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “Toll lanes create two classes of drivers. Those who can afford to pay a toll and those who cannot. This causes traffic diversion to other, often less safe, roads. Therefore it was not something we could support.”
The STAR Solutions consortium four years ago proposed the construction of tolled truck lanes along I-81 as a means of managing traffic and as part of a comprehensive I-81 improvement strategy. Under STAR’s plan, passenger vehicles would operate on existing toll-free lanes while trucks paid tolls starting at 37 cent per mile to use the 325-mile highway.
ATA and the Virginia Trucking Association led opposition through a strong grass roots effort and public relations campaign, which was conducted in conjunction with Smart Solutions, a broad-based coalition founded by the two associations.
VDOT said it changed its position on tolled truck-only lanes after planning studies and public involvement activities indicated that future traffic estimates for numbers of cars and trucks on I-81 did not support building a separate roadway for trucks.