Missouri Lawmakers Consider Calls for I-70 Tolls

[pstokely]

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) -- A panel of Missouri lawmakers is considering proposals to charges tolls on parts of Interstate 70 to help pay for highway improvements.

Missouri Department of Transportation Director Kevin Keith told lawmakers Tuesday that changes to the interstate, such as widening it to six lanes, could create construction jobs and make the state more economically competitive.

Keith said such improvements could cost as much as $4 billion. Private companies would finance the project up front and collect tolls on I-70 between Kansas City and St. Louis.

[link:http://www.komu.com/news/missouri-lawmakers-consider-calls-for-i-70-tolls/|

[Bozita]

1. I thought the interstate freeway system was owned and paid for by taxpayers

But then, this is the Age of the TeaBaggers.

[pstokely]

2. Have you ever driven in I-70 in Missouri?

The big out of state trucking companies don't pay for it. A toll may not be needed if they raised the already low gas taxes.

[DJ13]

3. Why dont they raise the tax on diesel fuel to pay for road maintanance?*

Trucks cause most of the damage.


*Rhetorical question, I know the trucking industry hates taxes almost as much as the GOP.

[pstokely]

4. Why don't they just build high speed rail from KC to Stl?

nt

[tinymontgomery]

5. Try I 95

heading north. Went from NC to RI this past summer, paid a ton of tolls. Roads weren't all that great. Rock cracked my windshield on the way in NY. I guess that's life now a days.

[pstokely]

7. But they have high speed rail from Boston to DC, none from KC to Stl

Freight trains get priority on the Missouri River Runner

[Gore1FL]

8. High Speed would have to run on separate tracks.

I am not sure right-of-way is so much the issue as the will to begin the project.

[mattvermont]

6. Charge the hell out of people based on

their carbon footprint. We would see hybrid 18-wheelers in 3 years and the rest in 2. Raise all interstate tolls by 1000%
and offer much of that revenue to local state deficit, and the rest to subsidize business and lower income commuters in the transition.