FHWA Unveils Interstate Toll Criteria

States have until March 31 to apply to the Federal Highway Administration for permission to toll interstates, the agency says.

In a Christmas Eve notice, FHWA quietly unveiled the criteria for participating in a federal pilot program that will permit up to three states to charge tolls on interstate highways. The pilot program is part of the highway bill signed into law in June. States must agree to use the toll revenue to pay for maintenance or repairs it could not otherwise do.

While state officials in Pennsylvania, California and South Carolina have expressed some interest in applying for the toll program, only Arkansas has publicly said it plans to seek DOT approval to place new tolls on interstates. The Arkansas Highway Commission has outlined plans to toll Interstates 30, 40 and 55. The commission is working with FHWA on an application.

Trucking opposes tolls and has created a national coalition to help convince states not to apply for participation in the pilot projects. Citizens for Safe and Efficient Highways released a poll in November that said 77 percent of registered voters oppose adding new tolls to federal highways.

For the full story, see the Jan. 11 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.