On Monday, Governor Bob McDonnell announced his administration has submitted an application to the Federal Highway Administration to add tolls to Interstate 95 near the North Carolina border.

"After a careful review of the Commonwealth's transportation needs, I believe the ability to toll Interstate 95 at the border will quickly enable the Commonwealth to begin addressing some of our greatest areas of concern," said McDonnell. "Such user fees will help the Commonwealth generate the revenue necessary to make much needed infrastructure and safety improvements in the I-95 corridor to better serve the traveling public and increase economic productivity."

Sam Adams, Mayor of the City of Emporia expressed his disappointment in the announcement. "In early December we told his (Governor McDonnell's) transition team that we wanted to be at the table if this issue was discussed," said Adams. "It didn't happen. We were left out of the discussion."
The mayor said he was opposed to the proposed tolling on Interstate 95 for a number of reasons. "Nobody likes tolls," said Adams. "It puts a negative feeling in peoples minds. I think merchants will suffer because it would make people decide to just go through and shop elsewhere. It would also increase the dangers on roads like Highway 301, which is just a two-lane road. Many people would choose the secondary roads to avoid paying the toll. When we asked if most of the revenue from the tolls would end up in the more populated Tidewater and Northern Va. regions, they indicated that it would."

The mayor got the "heads up" from Congressman Forbes' office about the Governor's administrations' plans to file the application for tolling near the N.C. border about two weeks ago. "I'm really disappointed that the governor's administration ignored us and didn't reach out," said Adams.
Greensville County Deputy County Administrator Natalie Slate said she had not seen the press release, but said she had heard rumors that a toll near the N.C. border on Interstate 95 was under consideration.

Emporia City Councilman Woody Harris doesn't believe the plan would benefit the citizens of Emporia and Greensville County. "It wouldn't be a great thing for this area," said Harris. "It would adversely affect commerce and I don't see how it would benefit the local population."
According to a press release from the Governor's office, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) estimates that tolling along Interstate 95 can generate between $30 to $60 million annually, if tolls are $1 to $2 per axle. All revenues generated through tolling will be used exclusively in the Interstate 95 corridor.

Revenues would first be used for safety improvements throughout the corridor, and then making improvements to the pavement conditions and infrastructure. Once these improvements are made, the Commonwealth will begin making capacity improvements where needed.
The press release said the Governor has written to the Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in an effort to gain a positive response to the administration's request.
The state currently has approval to toll Interstate Route 81 through the Interstate Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program, but is requesting a switch to Interstate 95 for tolling.