Truckers oppose I-40 toll plan

Highway Commission says fees could pay for third lane

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --07/25/2014--
Trucks intersect while traveling on Interstate 40 and Galloway.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --07/25/2014-- Trucks intersect while traveling on Interstate 40 and Galloway.

Trucking industry advocates are not in favor of a proposal that would lead to adding tolls an existing stretch of Interstate 40 from North Little Rock to Memphis.

While the Arkansas Trucking Association and other industry organizations see a need for infrastructure improvements, particularly on such a heavily used portion of road, they are not in favor of a proposal that would support collecting tolls on existing interstates.

Details of a study released this week by the state Highway Commission indicated tolls could generate enough funding to build additional lanes on each side of the 110-mile stretch of Interstate 40 between North Little Rock and West Memphis. Collecting tolls on all lanes of the interstate would be the only feasible way to pay for the third lane, which estimated the cost at $770 million, according to the study.

Federal law currently bans states from charging tolls on interstates, with limited exceptions. Missouri, Virginia and North Carolina have been granted authorization by the Department of Transportation to test charging tolls on stretches of interstates to fund improvements. Arkansas is working to position itself as a replacement in the pilot program if one of the three states selected withdraws.

"If you want to pay a premium for faster access or less traffic, we feel that's your right to do that," said Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association. "It's just not an acceptable solution to piecemeal tolling of existing infrastructure. We're strongly opposed to tolling of existing interstates. It doesn't make sense to charge seven times the taxes to drive from Little Rock to Memphis than it would from Little Rock to Fort Smith."

Based on the study conducted by the Highway Commission, the cost of traveling one way on the 110-mile section of interstate would be $27.90 for commercial motor vehicles. That equates to about 27 cents per mile, compared to the 7.86 cents per mile companies are paying in fuel taxes.

Newton said the trucking industry is currently paying $440 million per year in fuel taxes to Arkansas. As much as 99 percent of fuel tax money goes into infrastructure projects.

Trucking advocates oppose charging tolls for number of reasons, but point to the limited cost-effectiveness as one of their chief complaints. Between 20 and 25 cents of toll money would go to operations associated with collecting tolls. That only a portion of the money collected on toll roads goes back into improving the roads is where the American Trucking Associations finds fault.

"There is a significant overhead involved in collecting a toll," Associations spokesman Sean McNally said. "It's an efficiency issue for us."

Rather than pay tolls, the industry favors increased fuel tax. There has been no increase in the federal gas tax since 1993, and many in the trucking industry support paying additional fees for fuel to help fund infrastructure improvements. Currently, the diesel tax is 24.4 cents per gallon and 18.4 cents per gallon for regular fuel.

"We'd rather pay a higher diesel fuel tax that spreads the burden evenly so we can update the infrastructure we need," Newton said. "Piecemealing is inefficient and ineffective."

Joining the industry in opposition to the potential for tolls in Arkansas is the Alliance for Toll-Free Interstates, which argues that in addition to adding a financial burden to transportation companies, tolls would negatively impact commuters and consumers.

"Rather than solving a transportation problem, tolls can create economic hardship for families on a budget whose travel costs increase, and burden businesses with rising transportation expenses that can lead to higher consumer prices for goods and services," Alliance spokesman Julian Walker said. "Slapping financially punitive tolls on existing interstates can divert traffic onto local roads less able to accommodate it; delay emergency response by police, fire and rescue workers; and gouge motorists for using a thoroughfare that's traditionally been toll-free."

Business on 07/26/2014

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