Turnpike Tolls to Go Up

Posted Wednesday, July 1, 2009 ; 11:48 AM Post Comment Updated Wednesday, July 1, 2009 ; 12:26 PM The West Virginia Parkways Authority voted unanimously to increase toll rates for automobiles to $2 per tollbooth.

[opinion8d]

Good. Had they been increasing the tolls over the last 28 years we would be paying $3 per booth now as well as paying an inflated amount over the last 28 years. Construction material averages 3% inflation a year, do the math people.

[Routes]

I disagree they were supposed to do away with the Tolls on that road when the original loan was paid for. So do away with the Turnpike and let the feds cover the cost!

[Wondering]

I thought the tolls were supposed to disappear too...that is what I have heard anyway.

[opinion8d]

Routes wrote:

I disagree they were supposed to do away with the Tolls on that road when the original loan was paid for. So do away with the Turnpike and let the feds cover the cost!

You think the feds will pay for the maintenance and construction on the turnpike if there are no tolls? If the WVDOH would be required to take the turnpike into its system the state legislature would have to change the law to allow the governor to add anywhere from 10 to 20 cents on the gas tax. Would you rather for commercial and out of state commuters to pay the majority of the bill for the turnpike or would you rather the state increase the gas sales tax?

Why should everyone in the state be forced to pay more gas sales tax, even if they never use the turnpike? The turnpike is a user fee, you use it you pay. That is the most fair way to pay for the cost to keep the turnpike safe.

[Routes]

opinion8d wrote:

<quoted text>
You think the feds will pay for the maintenance and construction on the turnpike if there are no tolls? If the WVDOH would be required to take the turnpike into its system the state legislature would have to change the law to allow the governor to add anywhere from 10 to 20 cents on the gas tax. Would you rather for commercial and out of state commuters to pay the majority of the bill for the turnpike or would you rather the state increase the gas sales tax?
Why should everyone in the state be forced to pay more gas sales tax, even if they never use the turnpike? The turnpike is a user fee, you use it you pay. That is the most fair way to pay for the cost to keep the turnpike safe.

If the turnpike is part of the federal interstate system it already recieves federal money. The only reason it does not recieve full funding is because WV modified the route therefore requiring WV to pay for those changes. All WV has to do is relinquish control as stated and promised during the legislation to modify the route to go through Charleston. See some of us are old enough to remember the entire deal on this.

[Monroe]

I'd like to see a toll of I70 through the northern panhandle, mostly out of staters. There is a lot of money to be made between Charleston and Huntington. Traffc between Clarksburg and Morgantown is another wasted resource without a toll. If we managed this correctly we could lower a lot of taxes.

[opinion8d]

Uh...the feds only pay at most 80% of the cost and then only if they want the project. Otherwise it is paid with 100% of state funds. So we have to pay for the other 20% and the WVDOH doesn't have the funding now to pay for what is in the system. The state would still have to increase the state gas sales tax 10 to 20 cents to take the turnpike into the system just to pay for its 20% matching.

[all about money]

It sucks

[capitalist pig]

why wont they be honest and show the real cost of running the turnpike. we know what it costs to pave a mile of road, we know what the payroll is and we know how many cars a day travel the turnpike. it is not rocket science. most people just do not believe the money is being spent correctly.

[Curious]

opinion8d wrote:

<quoted text>
You think the feds will pay for the maintenance and construction on the turnpike if there are no tolls? If the WVDOH would be required to take the turnpike into its system the state legislature would have to change the law to allow the governor to add anywhere from 10 to 20 cents on the gas tax. Would you rather for commercial and out of state commuters to pay the majority of the bill for the turnpike or would you rather the state increase the gas sales tax?
Why should everyone in the state be forced to pay more gas sales tax, even if they never use the turnpike? The turnpike is a user fee, you use it you pay. That is the most fair way to pay for the cost to keep the turnpike safe.

I'm sorry but I think this is a bunch of junk. Most other states do not have tolls just to drive on their roads. It should be free to drive on a road. Secondly, the other states that don't have tolls, do not necessarily have higher taxes or gas prices, for example Virginia and Tennessee. The gas is cheaper there and Tennessee doesn't even have state taxes in which you must pay out of your pay from your job. Their roads are not near as bad as our roads, in fact they are much better. Further more, there are a lot of elderly people in the southern part of the state who have to travel to Charleston for doctor appointments and can not afford $12 each trip. I know several people who have had to travel to Charleston 5 times in one month, which would total $60, which they can not afford, not to mention gas costs, food, and motel if they had to spend the night. If the state really believes that most of the money that comes from the tolls is from out of state people, then the people of WV should get to go through the tolls for free, or at least $1 or less.

[Curious]

The whole thing is ridiculous. They were supposed to do away with the tolls a long time ago. If you figure it up, at least 2-3 workers in each toll booth 24 hours a day, making at least minimum wage (I'm sure they make more), plus benefits, workers comp, etc, they are paying out over $1,000,000 that could be used for road work, repairs, or other maintence.

[huh]

tolls are ridiculous, its like giving the waiter a tip for shitty service, that road is junk!!!!

[huh]

pass through the toll booth free if your from wv, sounds good to me

[Hank]

capitalist pig wrote:

why wont they be honest and show the real cost of running the turnpike. we know what it costs to pave a mile of road, we know what the payroll is and we know how many cars a day travel the turnpike. it is not rocket science. most people just do not believe the money is being spent correctly.

...what you reckon Mr. Barr makes and how long will it be before Parkway employees, and Mr. Barr, get a raise?

[capitalist pig]

im guessing the check is already in the mail

[opinion8d]

WVDOH has to maintain the 4th largest road system in the entire nation. Let me repeat, WVDOH has to maintain the 4th largest road system in the entire nation. I know you don't believe that so you will have to wait on me to get the data or you can research it yourself. The reason is WV is one of a handfull of states that has a state agency taking care of their road system. Most other states have their systems broke down to where their state highway agency maintains state roads and counties take care of their own. So the money that WV actually has available to build and maintain their roads per mile is pretty low. Matter of fact I think that per mile WV is 1st in how cheap we maintain our road system per mile. I'll obtain that data and post it here too. Point is, the turnpike is a huge money sink because for years they never increased the tolls like they should have to keep the road up to standard. Right now, the tolls are a necessary evil. The politicians could make it easier on instate residences and give them a credit for what they pay on the tolls. That would be my suggestion.

[Curious]

Well I say they should've been using what money they had more wisely instead of punishing the people of southern WV. I also believe they are going to keep losing money, rather than gain, because of the increase. I for one, will be traveling to Christiansburg and/or Roanoke verses Charleston and if/when I have to travel to Charleston, I will take the back roads and avoid the toll booths. They won't get another dollar from me. I hope other people will do the same.

[Bonnie]

Amen Curious. Not one more dollar if I can help it will be paid at the tolls.

I would like to know if Gov Manchin will give the southern part of the state a tax break because we now find it cheaper to do business in Virginia rather than to pay to see our own state government? There goes those school trips huh? Does he realize that he has us paying the tax difference between doing business in both WV and VA already- does he really think anyone is going to claim that now? I think maybe we should send him a bill when the costs of living around here goes up. Ask when is the "yankee" part of the state going to pitch in?

Will we see any kind of consideration or compensation when our groceries and even doctor bills go up? Trucking companies pay the toll it gets passed on to us, how fair is that to us southerners? What about having to pay to go up to the airport for our businesses and doctors? I'd like to know what is FAIR in this because the citizens to the north don't have to pay this, why not? Are we to bare the brunt of the costs? EQUITY is where?

I think this actually not only disenfranchises the southern part of the state but also is an egregious move on the part of the state. I agree with opinion8d, give us a break. If not, I say the citizens should asked to be part of Virginia again. At least they are brave enough to hold a meeting where everyone can attend and we wouldn't have to PAY to see our local government.

[Jaymae]

it is easy to go around both of the tolls going and coming from charleston. This will just make it that much more funny to completely pass them up

[AintBuyinIt]

When are ppl gonna wake up and realize the fact that the govt from the gov on down have continually lied about the turnpike even receiving federal tax dollars and not until 2 state senators demanded documents through the freedom of infomation act to prove such did the governor come out and publicly say that the WV turnpike was bringing in $10 million federal tax dollars but he wasnt sure for how long this had been going on...and he's the governor and you make a statement like that surely its in black and white somewhere. i sincerely believe someone should be held accountable for misappropriation of funds. 2 state senators 1 from mingo and one from mercer counties where behind this effort that forced the governor to backtrack and make this admission of guilt on someones part...who's to blame? we all are for just sitting idly by and buying into everything they tell us without demanding to see all the numbers. i am sure that the parkways authority employs over 100 ppl so to disband the parkways authority would have a major impact on an already strained economy. however i think it should be disbanded or at the least ran by local and state community and even a few non-political types for free. greg barr's salary then could go towards the upkeep of the road. i also think that the actual/factual data of income and expenses needs to be posted publicly so they can not come out and lie to the ppl of southern WV anymore. but when we just go with the flow i guess we get what we deserve. not one govt offical or news agency has pressed the governor with follow-up questions as to whether he looked into how long the turnpike had been drawing down federal money. maybe there should be a federal investagation into this mismanagement of funds!!! i will say again that the only way to send these ppl a message is to boycott/bypass the tolls or just start paying with IOU's or a note to the governor stating that you spent your toll money on something else and have it signed by your parents(in triplicate). Seriously tho...enough is enough... the ppl of southern WV have been made to bare the burden of this poorly designed and mismanged road far too long...WAKE UP PPL!!!(ya know how your washer agitates your clothes to get them clean...the only way to get this mess cleaned up is to agiatate these politicians. remember this the next time you vote!!!