Senate Candidate Denounces Virginia Tolling Plans

Gov. Bob McDonnell’s plan to finance upgrades to Interstate 95 in Virginia by collecting tolls near the North Carolina border took another blow when fellow Republican George Allen announced his opposition last week.
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Gov. Bob McDonnell’s plan to finance upgrades to Interstate 95 in Virginia by collecting tolls near the North Carolina border took another blow when fellow Republican George Allen announced his opposition last week.

Late Friday, Allen issued a statement announcing that he did not support the proposal to install tolls on the southern stretch of I-95, saying, "Southern Virginia faces significant economic challenges and these tolls could disadvantage job-creating businesses in the region, and the hardworking Virginia families already suffering from skyrocketing fuel costs."

Without any announcement to the public, VDOT submitted its application to toll I-95 to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) just before Labor Day. Virginia, along with North Carolina, is requesting permission to toll the interstate under a federal pilot program. Virginia's application submission drew criticism from a citizen opposition group. North Carolinians also have organized to oppose the state's tolling initiative. In its recent organizational meeting, NATSO member Ernie Brame, general manager of the Kenly Petro Stopping Center in Kenly, N.C., was elected president of the No Tolls I-95 Coalition, Inc.

Photo Credit: Frank Jackson

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This article originally ran in NATSO News Weekly (NNW), NATSO's member only weekly electronic newsletter. NNW is packed with the latest updates on government and business issues affecting the truckstop and travel plaza industry.

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