The Virginian-Pilot
©
Virginia Beach
A round-trip commute during rush hour along portions of Interstate 264 could cost $2.85 in tolls under a consultant’s report presented Tuesday to the City Council.
The city requested the study of whether to again place a toll on the congested interstate to raise about 70 percent of the roughly $1.6 billion needed to rebuild the road, including six major interchanges that today are functionally obsolete.
An additional $50 million in annual support and any previously apportioned state money would also be needed to help underwrite the costs of the project, which is in its conceptual phase.
Not all trips would be as costly, according to a study.
A shorter round trip, from Parks Avenue near the Oceanfront to Lynnhaven Parkway, could cost about $1.20 during peak periods and about 80 cents during off-peak periods, the report suggested.
Toll rates would generally be 23 cents per mile as a base rate during peak hours, with a discount available to commuters that would reduce the weekday cost to 12 cents a mile, the report said.
Off-peak prices could be 8 cents a mile, while weekend rates would be set at 12 cents a mile, according to the report.
Tolls would be collected electronically, possibly by an overhead gantry system that would largely eliminate toll booths that are common to older toll roads, said Bill Thomas, of Michael Baker Corp., which helped prepare the study along with Public Financial Management, CRA International.
The new study, financed largely by the Virginia Department of Transportation, is the latest in a series intended to help planners stitch together a complex strategy to build new interstates and rebuild portions of others by treating all of them as part of one system.
Officials are also weighing the effects of tolling Interstate 664, which is part of the planned third harbor tunnel project; the Elizabeth River tunnels; and Dominion Boulevard in Chesapeake, which is part of the planned Southeastern Parkway and Greenbelt.
The report presented Tuesday is expected to be combined with other ongoing studies to determine where tolls would be placed and how they would finance future improvements.
Talk of tolling existing roads always provokes an angry outburst .
“I’m not averse to tolling new roads, but I have a philosophical objection to tolling existing roads,” said Councilman Bob Dyer of Centerville.
Tolls were removed from I-264 – the former Va. 44 – in 1995 after political leaders then complained that the bonds used to build the road had been paid off and that ending tolls was part of the original promise to taxpayers.
I-264 carries some of Hampton Roads’ heaviest traffic loads – including a segment near the I-64 interchange that sees 250,000 vehicles daily.
Tom Holden, (757) 446-2331, tom.holden@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Look at it this way...
.. with so many people who dont want to cross over the bay to do their shopping, the local merchants will be pleased to see them in their shops.
I have lived in Hampton for almost 3 years and I have been over the HRBT I think 4 times? The Southside isnt very appealing as it is, what with Mayors Fraim and whats her name over in Virginia Beach. (Obhderdorff? Oberdorf? Olendorff? However you spell it!)
The tolls on the interstates would definitely do one thing: people will stick in their own areas/regions to do shopping and other stuff.
Shannon P.
Hampton
Typical..VDOT
Should have put the money they paid to "Consultants" into the roads, or collect back the $150,000,000 that our fine Governor just took out of the VDOT funds for his pork project, that would have taken care of roads. No toll on 264, VB City Council that votes for this should be voted out of office next election, including our fine old mayor.
What about all the money that was overcollected when the tolls were in place, it went into a fund and was never given back or used for the upkeep of 264. Tax-tax-tax and spend it all is not the way to go.
To Reid Greenmun
To Reid Greenmun: I guess I'm "no one". I use buses these days and is sure beats driving. When visiting my father, I got to try out light rail. It's worth it. So, in your eyes, I'm "no one". I CAN legally drive and I CAN afford it. I choose not to drive!
toll all of the roads
I'm so sick of hearing about the infrastructural issues around here, particularly that of the roads. If you toll one road you may as well toll another, and use some of that money to build long needed roads that do not exist. Stuff like I-95 is a major road on the East Coast tying Richmond in but there is nothing similiar to that in HR, we only have two bridge tunnels, 264 is the closest we have to a single road tying the cities together, no road linking us directly to DC, and so on and so forth. Why is it that I-64 is just diminished once you leave Newport News headed to Richmond, it is such a joke; 2 lanes going in each direction. Toll them all I can get around well enough without the highway here anyway it saves time but you are taking your life into your hands everytime you get onto them. I-264 is okay, usually, but it doesn't take much to cause gridlock ...
Military Exempt
HAHA! Now that's the funniest thing I 've heard all day! And its only 9:47 a.m. A military memeber who is still a resident of their home town does not pay VA. State Taxes, But most have to pay their home town STATE taxes. And members who are VA residents who are stationed in another state pay VA State Taxes. The only tax a Military member does not pay IF their residence is another state is the personal property CAR TAX. We even pay that $25.00 for a sticker that you no longer get! They pay every other tax just like everyone else LOL. With the execption if they shop at an exchange, Then they pay no sales tax. A lot of people think the Military gets some kind of free pass, I guess because they believe everything they hear.
My basic advice
"Stick to important issues and stop coming up with inane ideas like scarlet license plates for 3 time dui offenders. There are much more important issues being overlooked."
It will seem more important after the drunk runs into you or your family. I promise.
With all the democrats voted in...?
That's quite a long list of taxes. Tell us how many of them that the repubs eliminated during their majority of both Houses during most of Bush's administration and when the repubs had a majority of both sides of the VA legislature during half of Gilmore's administration.
55mph
Maybe the tolls on 264 will slow you people down. When I drive on that road at about 60 I feel like I am standing still. 264 is not the Daytona 500.
Finally
Finally... some common sense comments have been made.. The several previous military comments: THANK YOU! chrisald: THANK YOU It's good to know that smart people do exist on these boards. We are going to have to pay for it somehow. 1.6 million people and growing... gotta do something!
Military Exemption......
MTMSR: FYI. Yes, military is exempt from certain taxes and when you're stationed OUT of state you can file necessary paperwork to either change your state of residency to avoid such taxes. Do you think for (1) minute if the entire Military left this area the "locals" would assume all the taxes and a big recession. Hampton Roads is over 50% Military. Per your comment, "Military members who aren't VA residents are exempt from VA state income taxes, but aren't exempt from local and state sales, use, or property taxes, especially if they own property and/or have a vehicle registered in VA." Anywhere you go you are going to be responsible for grocery/fuel/Real Estate/retail taxes (if you are here). Military members are exempt from 50% of the taxes here because they're not VA residents. The locals have to pick up the tab for the difference that isn't covered. We DO NOT need toll roads in this heavily congested area.