This week, the public will have an opportunity to express concern with Virginia's proposal to place a toll on Interstate 95 south of Richmond. The first of three public meetings will be held tonight at Sussex Central High School, Sussex, Va., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The controversial plan has received significant opposition from citizens, local governments, and businesses along the corridor. Last week, the Southern Environmental Law Center also voiced itsopposition to tolls on I-95. The group expressed its concern with the planned location of the toll, which is one of Virginia's most economically depressed areas, the diversion of traffic to other roads that the toll would cause, and the potential economic, equity, and environmental impacts of the proposal.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will conduct two additional meetings before the end of the month. The second will be on Wednesday, December 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at John Tyler Community College, Nicholas Student Center, 13101 Jefferson Davis Highway in Chester; and the final meeting will be on Monday, December 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the VDOT Fredericksburg District Office, 87 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg.
Meanwhile in North Carolina, their I-95 Economic Assessment Advisory Council also meets today to discuss a study looking at economic impacts the tolling proposal could cause to citizens and businesses near the Interstate. Virginia and North Carolina are two of three states approved by the Federal Highway Administration to develop tolling proposals on existing interstates as part of the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program.
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