Tolls on I-95 in NC? What are your opinions?

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I heard about this on the radio on a talk show yesterday and again this morning. Apparently some North Carolina Senators are suggesting placing toll booths in along I-95 as a way to raise revenues for highway maintenance.

Good idea or bad? And for those that drive that route to WDW -- how will this affect your driving habits?

 

[jel0511]

It won't effect me one bit. But, hey, I live in NJ where we pay tolls all the time for our roads!!! We'll still make our annual drive down in the summer, tolls or no tolls.

 

[jimmytammy]

I am from NC. I hadnt heard this but Im not surprised. NC govt like most other forms of govt are VERY wasteful spenders. We have a new 4 lane road going right in front of my house. No problem, I understand traffic is heavier and someone has to have it in front of their house. What I do have a problem with is when our state govt comes in, who-dos my 80 something Aunt and Uncle out of their homeplace so the road can continue on.
The sell had to be, no other route could be taken. Fine, understood. The problem lies where fair market value is. A 1500 sq ft house setting on 3 acres in this area should FMV at 250-300,000. State offers 80,000 and says they will condemn if offer not accepted. Reason: state says they are operating on low budget.
IMO, wait til you have the money like the rest of us before moving ahead.
The tolls are there to make up for the wasteful spending already happened.
Sorry for the rant.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I really didn't mention my take on the issue because I wanted to hear what others had to say first, but ....

IMO, it's a really really bad idea. Each of the states gets money all of us pay in taxes at the gas pump for interstate highway maintenance. If a state or locality wants to make a road a toll road, then let it be one that people aren't already paying taxes toward maintenance for. An example would be the Powhite Parkway or the Pocahontas Parkway here in Richmond or the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and I'm sure there are other examples like the Garden State Parkway in NJ.

And this proposal for $18 one way through the state on I-95? I'm sorry, but this would make me much less inclined to stop in NC and spend my money. I'll gas up in VA or in SC before crossing the border, thank you very much.

Don't worry about the rant, jimmytammy. I think I just ranted a bit on my own, and I need to apologize about that.

 

[SamR]

Each of the states gets money all of us pay in taxes at the gas pump for interstate highway maintenance. If a state or locality wants to make a road a toll road, then let it be one that people aren't already paying taxes toward maintenance for.

When I first heard about this proposal, my reaction was the same as yours. However, according to a recent news story on this proposal, the funding is needed not for basic maintenance but for upgrading I-95 to an eight-lane interstate. Given that such an upgrade will take many years, and given the current state of congestion on I-95, it is easy for me to see how such such an upgrade will be needed (possibly now, but certainly by the time it could be completed). So, IF the upgrade is really what the tolls are used for, then I personally think it is a reasonable proposal. (Of course, that "IF" is a big "IF"...a lot of times taxes/tolls/etc. are not really used for the purpose originally advertised/intended.)

For anyone interested, here is a local (Raleigh, NC area) article on the proposal: N.C. Seeks To Turn Interstate 95 Into Toll Road

 

[Uncleromulus]

I'll bet this will make the truckers and most locals a bit un-happy!!
AS for me--I have the option of using I-81 and bypassing NC altogether. If the tolls and/or construction become too much, that's exactly what I'll do.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

I think it's a bad idea. Travelling the scenic route down 301 sounds like a winner to me.