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Making a federal case against tolls
by Heather Hayes
For Virginia Business
August 2005
Virginia businesses aren’t waiting
around to see if a proposed toll on trucks using Interstate
81 makes its way through Congress.
In a recent letter sent to members
of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
more than 150 Virginia companies and organizations
noted
their strong opposition to any type of tolls for tractor
trailers and other transport trucks. The letter characterizes
any toll proposal as an oppressive tax and a threat
to the national and international competitiveness of
companies dependent upon the I-81 corridor. “It’s
bad for business, tourism, the environment and the ability
to keep the corridor aesthetically pleasing,” the
letter states.
Business officials are especially
concerned that the Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) appears to be paying particular attention to
a proposal to collect tolls along the entire 325-mile
length of I-81 in Virginia.
“The increased costs of tolls
simply cannot be passed along to our end users and consumers,”
the letter states.
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