NATSO Salutes House Transportation Committee, Criticizes Tolls

NATSO, the national association representing truckstops and travel plazas, has commended members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for putting forth a long-term plan for the nation’s highways.  

The trade association expressed concern, however, with a provision of the House Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (STRRA) that would amend the program commonly known as the interstate tolling pilot program.

“We appreciate the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s commitment to moving forward a multi-year bill that puts us closer to passage of a robust federal highway program,” said NATSO President and CEO Lisa Mullings. “However, we don’t support tolls on existing highways. Tolls are an inefficient, counter-productive means of raising revenue for the nation’s highways. As the House works to finalize legislation before the October 29 expiration of current highway law, we urge Congress to repeal the tolling pilot program.”

According to the group, tolling federal interstates is prohibited under federal law except for three states that hold slots under the Interstate Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Pilot Program (ISRRPP). STRRA would amend the ISRRPP to impose a “use it or lose it” rule on state pilot projects, where states have a three-year deadline to obtain tolling approval under the pilot program, after which time the slot could be transferred to another state.

This provision lowers the bar for approval of pilot programs and would make it more difficult for the public to challenge pilot program approvals.

Unlike the Senate’s Drive Act put forth in July, the STRAA does not include language that would allow funds collected through tolls to be diverted to projects outside of improvements to that road. NATSO strongly prefers the House legislation in this regard, as any highway user fees should be utilized only for infrastructure improvement projects on the highway on which fees are assessed.

Category: General Update, Management