Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Legislature Tells INDOT To Study Tolls, Even Though They're Unlikely

Jimmy Emerson, DVM
/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/7974506488

The bill proposing tax hikes to keep Indiana's roads in good repair includes another proposal for raising money -- toll roads.

But even if the bill passes, motorists won't be paying to drive on Indiana roads for at least five years -- if ever.

The bill simply orders INDOT to study whether tolls on I-65 and I-70 would be workable.

State law requires legislative approval of any tolls, and federal law bans tolls on roads that used to be free.

But Congress has approved an experiment to grant three states an exception to that rule.

The states selected haven't done anything, and Indiana House Roads and Transportation Chairman Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) says the government is preparing to tell those state to use their tolling authority or give somebody else a chance.

“The federal government told us, ‘Go ahead and apply because we’re going to tell them that if they don’t do something, use it or lose it,’” Soliday says.

He says it would be what he calls "a real reach" to implement tolls in Indiana, but says it would be irresponsible not to look into it.

Soliday says Indiana needs to look at all its road funding options.

“The whole concept of looking at tolling is that gasoline tax starts to fall off in its yield, so there’s going to have to be something to take its place,” Soliday says.

He notes the entire road funding debate stems from declining gas tax collections, a decline which will accelerate when new fuel efficiency standards are fully implemented in nine years.

He says tolls could raise $1 million a day.

Related Content