S. Carolina Considers Interstate Tolls

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is considering putting tolls on its Interstates to make up for $9.4 billion shortfall in highway maintenance funding.

Twelve ideas were studied to generate the needed revenue. In addition to the tolls, the transportation department is also looking at other proposals like gas and diesel taxes, increasing driver’s license fees and raising vehicle registration charges.

"They’re all just ideas right now," said Pete Poore, a transportation department spokesman. "The gas tax and the tolls have gotten the most attention because they would have the greatest effect on motorists and would have the largest revenue potential."

The transportation department’s proposal would place tolls on Interstates at points along the state’s borders. The charges would be $2 per vehicle with an additional $1 per axle.

One state legislator has taken the proposed and turned it into a reality by introducing a bill which would place a toll on Interstate-95 at the borders with North Carolina and Georgia.

Under the bill, state residents could pay an annual fee to bypass the tolls, but that wouldn’t help trucking much according to Rick Todd, president of the South Carolina Trucking Association.

"Trucking would be hit hard even under the deal, because the rate they offer to the industry is much higher than it would be for cars," he said.

The reason the toll idea has been floated, said Todd is that the Jim Hodges, the new Democratic governor, is searching for a politically viable way to raise money for road improvements without new taxes.

"It’s such a hare-brained idea, hopefully common sense will prevail and it won’t even get a legitimate hearing," said Todd. "But crazier things have happened so we are gearing up for a fight to be prepared."

Unlike Arkansas, which is applying for permission to toll under a new pilot program, the South Carolina proposal would be imposed under a federal statute that allows states to pay for replacement or rehabilitation of an Interstate bridge with tolls.