toll conversion

A bill has passed the Texas senate that will allow the tolling of presently free state highways so long as at least the existing number of free lanes is maintained. The bill SB220 which has passed the state senate 31/0 allows the reconstruction of an existing tax-financed state highway with tolls if the same or more untolled lanes are provided as existed prior to reconstruction.

The FHWA after six weeks of hashing the subject around has written to Joseph Brimmeier CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike saying that USDOT believes they should apply for federal permission to toll I-80 under the Interstate System Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program (ISR&RPP) authorized in TEA21 legislation as Section 1216(b).