THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 13, 1994 TAG: 9411110367
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 27 lines
The state's commitment to building the Pinners Point Interchange to connect the Western Freeway to the Midtown Tunnel is good news. However, the notion of adding a regional tax on motor fuels to pay for it does not sound like the way to go.
A better option would be a small toll on the Western Freeway, which would cause those who use it to pay for the convenience. Tolls are not pleasant to deal with but they do help build roads.
Extra taxes on motor fuel would be a hardship on workers with marginal incomes who are forced to own automobiles because public transportation is not as extensive as it should be. Taxes also would hit elderly people on fixed incomes who are not inclined to use the super highways anyway.
Tolls can be avoided in most cases by taking an alternate route. Taxes on gasoline do not give the poor and elderly any options. And the rest of us are going to pay for it one way or another anyway! by CNB