Opinion: An important reason to keep the I-5 freeway system toll-free

Sharon Nasset argues fuel tax sends 100% to transportation, while tolling sends only 60% of net funds. Photo courtesy Andi Schwartz

🎧 Should I-5 Stay Toll-Free? One Advocate Says Yes

Economic Transportation Alliance/Third Bridge Now believes the drag on the economy locally and nationally to siphon off billions of dollars by allowing a toll on the mainline of I-5 freeway would be an enormous mistake

Sharon Nasset
Economic Transportation Alliance/Third Bridge Now

The I-5 freeway system from Canada to Mexico carries billions of dollars of freight and millions of citizens enjoying the “free” movement of goods and services. The idea of pooling our money together to pay for our road system has always been very important. Oregon was one of the first States to have a gas tax used to up-keep the roads. The idea of toll roads and turnpikes was absolutely a freedom of movement issue and did not work for farm communities that only had cash after a crop. Always having to have money in your pocket to be picked isn’t what citizens wanted then, and they don’t want it now.

The I-5 freeway-mainline has never had a toll on it since the “Freeway System” went in the 1960’s as a new model to the nation. The states of California and Washington have added additional lanes to the mainline that are pay for service; however you can drive the entire transcontinental freeway and not pay a toll.

The drag on the economy locally and nationally to siphon off billions of dollars by allowing a toll on the mainline of I-5 freeway would be an enormous mistake. Once Oregon does it in Portland at the I-5 bridges and the Rose Quarter every town on the “non” freeway system would do it too. If we have a right they would have a right to add tolling as well.

The type of tolling suggested is not honest and over 40% goes to the company handling the machines and does the money transacting. They provide the machines, maintain the machines, they also take in the money, count the money, deposit the money, tell us what is our share, and have no responsibility to go after those who don’t pay the toll. If you do not know that, that is shady, you do not know accounting or business. Taking in the money, counting, depositing, and doing the books, by “one/company” is not a good business model.

The losing of our freeway system and the adding of tolls by any towns along I-5 freeway are unacceptable. The Federal Highway Administration should not allow the new extremely expensive adding in of the “banking system” and financially risky tolling scheme.

1. Fuel tax is 100% in compliance and 100% of funds collected goes directly into transportation funding.
2. Toll tax is 70% in compliance and 60% of net funds collected go directly into transportation funding. Why would we consider changing to a tolling funding system that takes millions or billions of dollars annually from the taxpayers sending it directly to banks and away transportation funds?
3. Electric utilities currently collect taxes. Is the Department of Transportation working on diverting a percentage of these taxes to transportation funding? The utilities tax collect system currently in use works well.
4. Every property with 220 electrical service is a charging station needing only a receptacle outlet to access service. The addition of receptacles on most properties will enable limiting the need for diesel heavy equipment in residential areas. Smart Meters can distinguish between 110 and 220 electrical usage allowing a percentage of the utility taxes deviated to transportation funding viable.

Asking utility companies to put out bonds to pay for the addition of 220 receptacle outlets for all properties, Smart Meters, and the ability to charge personal accounts with electrical usage in different locations on one account would be an enormous game changer in converting to electrical energy usage.

We have projects that are toll-free and lessen congestion tremendously. Those community projects have been blocked! Please look at the alternative that can be funded without a toll.

The Economic Transportation Alliance/Third Bridge Now is a 501c3 non-profit public charity; www.thirdbridgenow.org, Third Bridge Now, 2114 Main St. PMB #154, Vancouver. WA 98660, (503) 283-9585.