New Hampshire flirts with interstate tolls

 

 

From Land Line magazine, the voice of independent truck owners and drivers, comes word that New Hampshire’s transportation commissioner wants to toll 20 miles of Interstate 93 to pay for widening and improvements.

New Hampshire would have to apply for Federal Highway Administration approval, just like Pennsylvania has (memo to NH: don’t expect a fast answer.)

Problem is, there are only three spots for "pilot projects" for tolling existing interstates, and Missouri and Virginia already have two.

By the way, Virginia got approval for I-81 tolls in 2003 and Missouri for I-70 tolls in 2005 but neither state has actually imposed them.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is opposed to tolling interstates built with federal funds and some local officials are raising the same objections as foes of I-80 tolls in Pennsylvania, saying traffic will use local roads to avoid tolls, causing more congestion and accidents.

Photos: Federal Highway Administration