The next step following a public hearing today on the potential tolling of Interstate 95 will be to begin lobbying federal legislators and officials against the measure, Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Allen Purser said.

More than 2,000 signatures have been collected against the measure, which the state is seeking federal approval of to pay for improvements and widening of the highway. “We're going to take them to D.C.,” Purser said of the signatures on the petitions, as he showed people coming to meeting a place in the state's handout where they could leave feedback. Purser said the website to sign the online petition will remain open for a while so others can sign it.

The public hearing was not what many of those attending had envisioned. Rather than a formal gathering where the state would share its concerns and then allow the public to share theirs, designated Department of Transportation officials gathered at different stations where the public attending would have to go to them and ask questions.

“That was DOT's decision,” Purser said.

The format left many confused. “At each station I was getting different information,” said Mike Clark. “One says it's about congestion and this one says it's about road repairs. This is a joke.”

Halifax County Board of Commissioners Chairman James Pierce was disappointed with the format. “I was expecting something else. I thought we would get the opportunity to voice our opinions.”

The opinions were out there.

“It's a huge mistake,” said Mike Felt, director of the county department of Social Services. “I literally represent one-third of Halifax County's population and I can tell you without hesitation it will be distressing to this population.”

David King spends $13,000 a week in fuel for his business. Some 21 cents of that is in highway taxes. “I'm paying that for them to pave roads in Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte. I think trucks in Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte should help pave our roads.”

There are only seven miles of interstate in Northampton with two interchanges, County Manager Wayne Jenkins said.

Jenkins said the county doesn't want to see tolling hurt what businesses are located along those interchanges. “The question is have we taken the easy way out? Have we looked at other options.”

While Northampton County Economic Development Director Gary Brown said he can't say tolling is inevitable, he said should it come there should be concessions made for locals traveling the highway to and from work as well as look at its effects on other roads like Highway 301.

“They're still going through the process,” state Representative Michael Wray said. We're going to try all we can to stop it.”

Anitra Collins, vice president of mill operations for KapStone, said the company's position on the matter has not changed. “They've not done an economic study,” she said.

David Burke, operations manager at Flambeau, said he was concerned. “In our business we employ 140 people. It will add more cost to our product.”

Tolling, he said, could force the company to focus on operations where that facet of transportation is not a factor. “It could have the potential of cutting 140 jobs, including mine.”

State Senator Ed Jones said now is not the time for tolling. “I don't see it right now. Look at the price of gas. On top of that they haven't put it broad enough and not looked at what it will do to shipyards in Norfolk and Newport News.”