Lawmakers introduced several bills at the federal and state level in recent days aimed at limiting the North Carolina Department of Transportation's (NCDOT) ability to toll Interstate-95.
U.S. Rep. G. K. Butterfield, D-N.C., introduced legislation that would force NCDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to fully consider public opposition to tolling of Interstate 95 in North Carolina.
H.R. 5713, the Talk Before You Toll Act of 2012, would require NCDOT and FHWA to make public opinion the top criteria before implementing tolls. Under the bill, the Highway Administration also would be required to hold public meetings and collect public comments on the final tolling application submitted by the state. The state also would need to publicly disclose whether the majority of public comments approve or disapprove of the proposed tolling program. Congressmen Melvin Watt (D-N.C.) and Larry Kissell (D-N.C.) joined Butterfield by co-sponsoring H.R. 5713.
N.C. State Rep. Michael Wray also filed H.R. 1134, which would give tolling authority back to the General Assembly. If passed into law, NCDOT would not be able to toll I-95 without prior approval from the General Assembly. The bill also would require an economic study on how the electronic tolling might hurt residents and businesses in North Carolina. State Republican Reps. Jeff Collins, Leo Daughtry and G.L. Pridgen co-sponsored the measure.
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