By Nicholas Charalambous
Independent-Mail
July 9, 2004

Interstate 85’s future as a freeway one day may come up for debate if new federal legislation is passed that would let states put tolls on interstates.

Federal lawmakers considering a new six-year highway bill are wrangling over how far to ease restrictions on interstate tolls, but allowing them in some form seems likely, either as a way to manage road congestion by adding such things as pay lanes or to pay for new road-building.

State lawmakers, who for years have shied away from raising the gasoline tax, may see it as a way to diversify state highway funding, which now relies on gas taxes for 85 percent of its $1 billion annual budget.

"I think it’s something that when the legislature reconvenes will be discussed," said state Rep. Michael Thompson, R-Anderson. "I would certainly like to get public input on this."

Legislators likely will face a barrage of criticism from the trucking and tourism industries, as well as motorist groups and average citizens.

The American Automobile Association’s Carolinas chapter called the idea of interstate tolls "double taxation."

"Putting in tolls will not facilitate traffic, will increase the cost of the shipment of goods and it is absolutely bad public policy," spokesman Tom Crosby said.

South Carolina Trucking Association president Rick Todd added concerns about "extorting" pass-through travelers.

"What we need to do is bite the bullet and raise state and federal fuel taxes to accommodate for the growth we’re anticipating," he said.

The federal highway bill currently is stalled in Congress because of debate on its cost. A conference committee is trying to reconcile a Senate version of the bill that would allow tolls to ease congestion and reduce air emissions with a House version that would allow tolls only for as long as it would take to pay for new roads or new lanes.

The Upstate’s Republican U.S. Reps. Gresham Barrett and Jim DeMint were supporters of the toll concept in the House bill.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham could not be reached for comment Friday.

Nicholas Charalambous can be reached at (864) 260-1256 or by e-mail at charalambousnc@IndependentMail.com.

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