By Michael Sluss

Archives Reprint

    RICHMOND - The chairman of a key General Assembly committee is sponsoring legislation that would enable the state to toll all vehicles using Interstate 81, a provision that is critical to one road-building consortium's plan for widening the highway.

    Without such legislation, the state cannot consider Fluor Virginia's plan to widen most of the interstate to six lanes under the Public-Private Transportation Act. Fluor's $7 billion financing plan relies on tolls collected from all vehicles using the Virginia portion of the interstate.

    A competing $13 billion proposal from Star Solutions would widen the interstate to eight lanes, separate car and truck traffic, and impose tolls on trucks only. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2002 to permit tolling of trucks on I-81, despite opposition by the trucking industry.

    Del. Leo Wardrup, R-Virginia Beach, is sponsoring the bill (HB 905) that would subject all I-81 vehicles to tolls. But Wardrup, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said he has no preference between the plans.

    "I just want to get the playing field leveled," said Wardrup, adding that he knows little about the two proposals.

    A Virginia Department of Transportation advisory panel is evaluating the I-81 widening proposals and will make a recommendation to VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet.

    Roanoke Valley legislators interviewed Friday raised no concerns about Wardrup's bill.

    "If that's what it takes to get I-81 improved, fine," said House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, who has said he prefers Star Solutions' plan because it could be eligible for $1.6 billion in federal money that may be available for a test highway that separates car and trucks.

    Del. William Fralin, R-Roanoke, had no immediate reaction to Wardrup's bill. But Fralin will get a chance to review it thoroughly because he sits on the House Transportation Committee.

    "I recognize that we're going to have to have some tolls," Fralin said. "I'm reluctant to toll cars if we can help it. I also recognize that we've got to do something on 81 and we've got to do it quickly."

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