The Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce will get an update from the state Department of Transportation on Interstate 95 tolling at its governmental affairs committee meeting Friday, June 18.
The meeting will be held at noon at Lone Star Steakhouse and will feature Roberto Canales and Jim Westmoreland who will discuss tolling, rural transportation challenges and opportunities, according to a chamber news release.
“It is important to hear the most current information available on the proposed tolling of I-95. We need to understand the implications and the timetable if there is one,” said Anitra Collins of Kapstone Paper and Packaging, chair of the chamber board of directors. “The chamber is in a leadership position on issues and how they will impact the Roanoke Valley. Issues around rural transportation and tolling will affect the growth of our communities in the future.”
When tolling was first discussed a few years ago, the chamber’s position was that it was opposed, its president, Allen Purser, told rrspin.com today.
With Virginia pushing for tolling at the North Carolina line and it appearing it may inevitable, the chamber’s position may shift, Purser said. “If they do toll, the money needs to go to fix 95. We want it to be fair. We want it to be fair with the least amount of impact.”
Purser said the chamber’s position could be one where if I-95 is tolled then all interstates in the state must be tolled.
Last month Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced his administration has submitted an application to the Federal Highway Administration to add tolls to Interstate 95 near the North Carolina border.
"After a careful review of the Commonwealth's transportation needs, I believe the ability to toll Interstate 95 at the border will quickly enable the Commonwealth to begin addressing some of our greatest areas of concern," said McDonnell. "Such user fees will help the Commonwealth generate the revenue necessary to make much needed infrastructure and safety improvements in the I-95 corridor to better serve the traveling public and increase economic productivity."
Sam Adams, mayor of Emporia, expressed his disappointment in the announcement, the Independent-Messenger reported. "In early December we told his (Governor McDonnell's) transition team that we wanted to be at the table if this issue was discussed," said Adams. "It didn't happen. We were left out of the discussion."
The mayor said he was opposed to the proposed tolling on Interstate 95 for a number of reasons. "Nobody likes tolls," said Adams. "It puts a negative feeling in peoples minds. I think merchants will suffer because it would make people decide to just go through and shop elsewhere. It would also increase the dangers on roads like Highway 301, which is just a two-lane road. Many people would choose the secondary roads to avoid paying the toll. When we asked if most of the revenue from the tolls would end up in the more populated Tidewater and Northern Va. regions, they indicated that it would."
There is no cost to attend this briefing and reservations are required. It is open to chamber members and anyone interested in hearing about these issues. If you are interested in attending contact Purser at
The Independent-Messenger of Emporia contributed to this report.
