Local officials will begin studying a newly released report on Interstate 95 improvements which all but says tolling is the way to fund road and bridge repairs.

The study, released by the state Department of Transportation, goes into detailed discussion about the design and placement of tool booths from the South Carolina to Virginia lines, including projected tolling fees to fund a 40-year improvement project that at its end is expected to cost between $10.3 billion to $12 billion.

Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Allen Purser said chamber and tourism officials have been expecting this report. “There are so many issues involved in tolling,” he said, calling it effectively, “Double taxation on 95 with people paying a high gas tax. It affects local business and I don't think they have thought about the impact on 301.”

While Purser said a coalition of chamber and tourism officials along the I-95 corridor are expected to meet to discuss the matter, he said, “It's almost like it's a done deal.”

Purser believes there has to be other options. “It just seems like to me it's just tolling. They've got a round of public hearings. I think there's some things we can do about that.”

(The local public hearing by the state Department of Transportation will be February 13 at Halifax Community College in The Centre Gallery between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. For a complete listing of all public hearings click this link.)

One of the aspects in the tolling debate is that North Carolina can seek the authority to toll by going directly to the federal government and asking for that authority. “The General Assembly doesn't have to vote for the approval,” Purser said.

Purser said the chamber is supposed to come out with its legislative agenda on February 9. “I'll send out something today.'

Even if the state were just to toll the new roads and lanes that would offer some relief, Purser said, and the state needs to hear from those who are economically dependent on the highway.

Possible tolling both locations in northern corridor.

Mayor Emery Doughtie said he understands the need for improvements to the highway. He said he also understands its impact. “For those of us along the border communities, it can have a far reaching, negative impact. To me it's very similar to when they bypassed Murfreesboro and Bethel. We need to continue to impress upon our legislators, we have to stress on how we're two (Northampton and Halifax) of the poorest areas. It could have a negative impact like the gas tax.”

The report says throughout the corridor there are places where bridges are substandard or have a remaining life of less than 20 years. There are also areas of I-95 that need resurfacing, the report says.

Most of the pavement has been rehabilitated to asphalt, with the exception of Nash County and a small segment of Halifax County. Pavement conditions are generally fair to good with the exception being 45 miles in Nash and Halifax which are in poor conditions, the study says.

In justifying the need for tolling, the report says available funding for statewide transportation improvements and maintenance over the study's 25-year planning period is $55 billion while total needs are $85 billion. “Clearly, projected statewide transportation needs far exceed the funding available from existing sources, which will make it difficult to receive the funds needed for I-95.”

There are 34 improvement projects on the interstate slated from 2009-2015 totaling $1 billion while in 2009 there were 13 of those projects completed which received funding before 2009. The amount was $110 million. “Just under $365 million in funding has been programmed in the (State Transportation Improvement Plan) to cover some of the remaining costs for those projects, leaving an unfunded backlog of $545 million, or 53 percent of total costs. Without additional funding, the I-95 projects in the 2009-2015 (plan) could not be completed before 2025 with the current rate.”

The study says the assumption is toll collection would be operated as a subset of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority toll system, using an all electronic system with overhead toll gantries. There would also be easy pass systems in place.

Several different toll rates were tested at 2009 rates of 10 cents and 15 cents per mile. The higher 15 cents per mile does not appreciably divert traffic away from the corridor, the study says.

The 2019 projection is a total toll of $19.20 to travel from border to border.