IBTTA Applauds Administration’s Proposal to Lift the Ban on Interstate Tolling included in Surface Transportation Bill Released Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 29, 2014
CONTACT: Kristofer Eisenla, LUNA+EISENLA media
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With Grow America Act, Administration Takes Bold Action in Keeping All Options on the Table to Meet Nation’s 21st-Century Transportation Needs

WASHINGTON, DC – The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the worldwide association representing toll facility owners and operators and businesses that serve them, applauded the Administration for including language in its surface transportation reauthorization proposal, the Grow America Act, released earlier today that would “eliminate the prohibition on tolling existing free Interstate highways.”    

“In releasing their proposal today, Secretary Foxx and the Administration recognize the importance of giving states the maximum amount of flexibility to use all appropriate funding and financing tools to meet their 21st century funding challenges,” said Patrick Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA.  “We applaud the Administration for taking the bold step of proposing to lift the ban on interstate tolling.” 

Jones continued, “Now is the time to incorporate new and innovative ways to fund our nation’s transportation needs. Currently, 35 states have leveraged the power of tolling as a proven and effective option to meet their infrastructure needs.  Today’s Administration proposal opens the door for state governments to take advantage of all the tools in the toolbox to meet their local transportation funding needs.”

Released in a press call by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, the Administration’s transportation reauthorization bill sent to Congress today states that it would:

“eliminate the prohibition on tolling existing free Interstate highways, subject to the approval of the Secretary, for purposes of reconstruction, thus providing States greater flexibility to use tolling as a revenue source for needed reconstruction activities on all components of their highway systems. This section would allow any State or public agency to impose variable tolls on existing highways, bridges, or tunnels for purposes of congestion management, subject to the approval of the Secretary.”

“Tolling is a proven and effective tool to fund and finance more than 5,000 miles of roads, bridges and tunnels in 35 states. To ensure our roads and bridges remain safe and reliable requires a variety of solutions. All options should be on the table so that states can choose the funding methods that work best for them.” Jones said.

In 2013, IBTTA launched Moving America Forward, a public awareness campaign that highlights the benefits of tolling to policy-makers, the media, and other interested parties. For additional information on IBTTA’s Moving America Forward campaign, including fact-sheets, background documents and other materials, please click here.

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About IBTTA

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) is the worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve them. Founded in 1932, IBTTA has members in more than 20 countries on six continents. Through advocacy, thought leadership and education, members are implementing state-of-the-art, innovative user-based transportation financing solutions to address the critical infrastructure challenges of the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ibtta.org or join us on Twitter @IBTTA or #TollRoads.