
NoVA Toll Relief Bill Killed, Continuing High Tolls and Leaving Open Door for Toll Freeloaders
Richmond, VA – Last night, a House subcommittee
killed Del. LaRock’s bill which sought to provide relief from the Northern
Virginia toll nightmare put in motion by the McAuliffe administration.
Delegate
Dave LaRock (R-Loudoun) pressed for passage of HB1489, asking for refunds to drivers (through E-Z Pass) who pay more than $200
in tolls in a month ($10/day). This would begin July 1, and sunset when the I-66
inside the beltway East-bound expansion opens in 2020.
LaRock
said, “I have opposed these new tolls from the beginning, but, after seeing
them rolled out, I’m convinced this was rushed and it should have been delayed
at least until the new capacity was up and running in 2020. Holding the line
with a $200/ cap was a very reasonable ask; unfortunately, VDOT fought it all
the way. With tolls north of $40 one way on I-66 inside the beltway, taxpayers
are being forced off a road they’ve paid for; we’re seeing this road become
Lexus lanes for the wealthy.”
The bill
also sought to require the Virginia Department of Transportation to start
tolling reverse-commuters on I-66 inside the beltway by Oct. 1, with no sunset.
The new tolls on I-66 inside the beltway only apply to eastbound a.m. and
westbound p.m., but give reverse commuters driving on the same road a free
pass.
“Former
Governor McAuliffe created a favored class of commuters. This one-way tolling
is completely unfair and it was obviously politically motivated. I’m frustrated
that my fellow legislators would not undo this debacle during the 2018 session,”
LaRock said.
VDOT data
shows that 59% of toll freeloaders who reverse-commute on I-66 inside the
beltway come from Arlington, 8% are from Alexandria, and a whopping 21% are
coming from Washington, DC. LaRock said, “The fact that people from inner
suburbs and Washington, DC get a free ride while my constituents are paying
tolls up to $50 one-way Leesburg- to-Washington makes me furious.”
“In sharp
contrast to Gov. McAuliffe’s treatment of NoVA commuters, McAuliffe spent millions of dollars to provide toll welfare in Hampton Roads, yet he
turned a blind eye to Northern Virginia families and businesses,” LaRock said. “I
hope Governor Northam will break from the McAuliffe legacy of new tolls and
roll them back as was done in Hampton Roads recently.” LaRock questioned the Secretary
of Transportation on this double-standard yesterday morning; video is at 9:08:30 here.
LaRock, with many other Northern Virginia Republican legislators, has
opposed the McAuliffe I-66 Inside the Beltway toll plan since the proposal was first announced in March of 2015. Nine of these
legislators sent a letter to Gov. McAuliffe outlining their toll relief
proposal Dec. 21, 2017, shortly after the tolls began on I-66 ITB. The full
letter, and other information on Del. LaRock’s toll relief efforts, is
available at http://www.votelarock.us/issues/toll_relief
About Dave LaRock
Delegate Dave LaRock
represents the 33rd House District, including parts of Loudoun,
Clarke and Frederick Counties. LaRock
serves on the Transportation Committee, the Science and Technology Committee
and the Education Committee.
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