THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 18, 1994 TAG: 9411180462
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEC KLEIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
In less time than it takes to grope for a dime in rush-hour traffic, the Commonwealth Transportation Board voted unanimously Thursday to banish all tolls from the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, effective next Oct. 1.
The nettlesome 27-year-old rite of passage is coming to an end. That should mean a savings in time and money for more than 100,000 commuters who stop at the expressway's 25-cent toll plaza and 10-cent interchanges every day.
But it also will mean a loss of $11 million a year in tolls, money that's used to maintain and upgrade the expressway, known as Route 44. The move also will put 45 full-time employees out of work and could jeopardize the proposed Southeastern Expressway, a proposed link between Virginia Beach and Chesapeake which could have been funded in part from toll revenue.
The Virginia Beach City Council had resisted removing the tolls, mindful of the loose change and what the tolls could provide in highway improvements. But Gov. George F. Allen disagreed, and he appointed the 16-member transportation board.
``Score one for honest government in Virginia,'' said state Transportation Secretary Robert Martinez.
``Our predecessors told motorists we would stop collecting tolls as soon as the bonds were paid off. We have delivered on that pledge.''
Earlier this year, state lawmakers opposed lifting the tolls, although enough money had been collected to pay off the bonds used to build the highway.
In January, the General Assembly could still mount an effort to override the transportation panel. The governor, in turn, could override the General Assembly with a veto.
No such showdown, however, is expected.
Tolls are not a favorite topic for politicians, unless they're fighting against them. Some see Allen's actions as a political ploy.
``He's doing what (former President Ronald) Reagan did, which is an easy, populist, crowd-pleasing thing, but then the bill comes due on somebody else's watch,'' said Gail Nardi, spokeswoman for the state Democratic Party.
But Allen's administration insists there will be enough money from tolls over the next 10 months to pay off the highway bonds and to complete planned construction and maintenance projects along the expressway.
The transportation board expects to set aside $10 million for major repairs and highway resurfacing. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
For commuters on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, the
Transportation Board's unanimous action will end a tradition:
tossing coins at the 25-cent main toll plaza and the 10-cent
interchanges.
by CNB