RICHMOND

Public outcry over impending tolls on the Downtown and Midtown tunnels has helped spark widespread opposition in the General Assembly to the governor's request for broad new authority to use tolls as a major transportation funding mechanism statewide.

There is no serious talk of legislatively halting the planned tolls on the two Elizabeth River crossings. A last-ditch attempt, initiated by Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, was scotched by the Republican-controlled Assembly last week.

But outrage in Hampton Roads over the tolls, slated to begin this year and start at $1.84 for cars at peak hours, is a key factor in legislative pushback against the Republican governor's transportation funding package, which includes a powerful new statewide tolling authority.

Gov. Bob McDonnell's statewide tolling proposal "is on life support," House Minority Leader David Toscano, D-Charlottesville, said Tuesday. "People don't like tolls, and they especially don't like paying tolls that are going to be sent someplace else."

That has been a major objection raised to the tunnel tolls: Under the state's agreement with a private-sector partner, revenue collected at the Downtown Tunnel, which will not be expanded, is to be used in large part to help pay for a two-lane expansion of the Midtown Tunnel.

McDonnell's proposed Virginia Toll Road Authority would expand that concept statewide. The new state entity would be empowered to impose tolls for construction, maintenance, repair and operation of any roads, bridges, tunnels and other transportation facilities designated by the governor, the legislature or the Commonwealth Transportation Board. There is no provision tying toll revenue to the facility where it is collected.

In addition to the power to set tolls, the new authority would be given the power of eminent domain – the ability to take private property by condemnation – and it would be exempt from public procurement, personnel and administrative process laws.

This week, the Republican patrons carrying McDonnell's

Article source: http://feeds.stateline.org/~r/StatelineorgRss-Transportation/~3/4Dr77oDMPhk/outcry-erupts-over-mcdonnell-request-toll-authority