Possible tolls on Interstate 64 addressed at hearings

“Toll” appears well on its way to becoming a dirty word, at least in the minds of opponents of any measure that would require motorists to pay to drive on Interstate 64 between Richmond and Hampton Roads.

Representatives of a group billing itself as the “Stop the Tolls Political Action Committee” handed out anti-toll literature, including a request for donations, during Tuesday night’s first of three Virginia Department of Transportation public hearings on what is dubbed the Interstate 64 Peninsula Study and its accompanying environmental impact statement.

The scene was Bruton High School in York County. Subsequent hearings were slated for Newport News on Wednesday and Richmond tonight (Thursday).

The Portsmouth-based PAC labels tolls as “one of the most regressive, punitive forms of taxation.” It claims tolls could “devastate” the region’s economy and “punish” small businesses.

But VDOT officials say not so fast. They point out that tolls are only one part of a potential solution when it comes to improving traffic flow along the 75-mile I-64 corridor that stretches from I-95 in Richmond to I-664 in Hampton. And nothing is set in stone, they add.

“The key is no decisions have been made yet,” said Nicholas Nies, a senior environmental planner with Richmond-based Whitman, Requardt & Associates, who is serving as project manager for the VDOT study.

“No decision has been made on tolls, and no decision has been made on an alternative [for construction],” he said.

VDOT officials are being closed mouth on how much toll could be assessed and where tollbooths could be placed.

Nies said a “toll diversion analysis,” meaning a study of interchanges where traffic enters and leaves I-64, must be undertaken before booth sites are determined.

As for alternatives, five designated as “build” are proposed in the VDOT study. People attending the hearings received a packet containing a summary of potential environmental impacts along the I-64 corridor and a questionnaire. They were asked to fill out the questionnaire that included picking the alternative they deemed best. Another question asked if they supported use of tolls to help finance the project.

All five alternatives (labeled 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, and 3) deal with adding lanes in both directions on I-64. Where the first four choices differ is placement of the new lanes (either outside or on the median strip side of existing travel lanes) and imposing tolls.

Alternative 1A calls for new lanes to the outside while 1B places new lanes next to the median. Alternative 2A is the same as 1A and 2B equates to 1B, but both include tolls.

The fifth, Alternative 3, places “managed” lanes in the median. A managed lane could be HOV (high-occupancy vehicle), HOT (high-occupancy toll), ETL (express toll lane), EBL (express bus lane), or for trucks only.

For the portion of I-64 that starts at the Bottoms Bridge/Quinton interchange and runs through New Kent County, one new lane of travel would be constructed in both directions, regardless of the alternative.

Nies said public comments gathered at the hearings and submitted by regular mail, e-mail, and on-line are to be forwarded to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for review. Based on the information, the CTB decides on an alternative. The group also has the option of selecting a “no-build” scenario.

“If an alternative is picked, next comes completion of a final environmental impact statement, which is projected for November 2013,” said Nies. “We must get the environmental document done before we look at funding.”

But any more action toward improving I-64 looks to be several years down the road. Federal approval must be sought and then comes finding construction money. All five “build” alternatives fall in the estimated $4.7-$7.3 billion range.

“Then if money is available, we’ll move on to the design and engineering phase,” Nies said.

“Right now, there is no money for construction,” he said, adding that the financial picture appears bleak.

VDOT, meanwhile, is accepting comments on the I-64 study through Jan. 7. Comments can be submitted by e-mail to I-64PeninsulaStudy@mccormicktaylor.com or directly to Nies at nnies@wrallp.com; on-line by visiting the web site virginiadot.org/projects/hamptonroads/i-64_peninsula_study.asp; or by regular mail to I-64 Peninsula Study Team, c/o McCormick Taylor Inc., North Shore Commons A, 4951 Lake Brook Drive Suite 275, Glen Allen, Va. 23060.

All project materials, maps, and information can be found on the web site listed above.