10/20/08-The brakes have been applied to a plan to impose tolls on travelers using Interstate 80 in Wyoming.
The Legislature’s Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee has been looking into whether to give tolling authority to the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
After getting negative feedback about tolls the panel decided last week to nix plans to pursue permission to charge cars and trucks to use I-80, The Associated Press reported.
Reasons cited for pursuing tolls include increased traffic, heaver vehicles, fewer federal dollars and escalating construction costs.
Despite the decision by lawmakers, officials with the Wyoming Department of Transportation said they will continue to pursue tolling scenarios during the next year. Members of the interim committee said they will focus their efforts on educating voters about the reality of the state’s highway funding shortfall, and the possibility of tolling I-80, the Casper Star-Tribune reported.
While toll talk on I-80 has been stalled, WYDOT officials are looking to improve winter safety along the roadway. The agency told lawmakers that with more than 70 percent of car and truck crashes on the 402-mile highway occurring in the winter, they recommend new climbing lanes, more snow fences to prevent drifting, and more guard rails in the medians.
In fact, the speed limit has been lowered from 75 mph to 65 mph along the 52-mile stretch of I-80 between Laramie and Rawlins. According to The AP, the lower limit is scheduled to be in effect until spring.

8/1/08-A legislative panel in Wyoming is talking over plans to tap into severance tax revenue to help pay for widening and expanding some of the state’s more congested highways.
The Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee is expected to sponsor legislation during the next regular session that would send a portion of the state’s severance tax revenue for highway work.
Severance taxes are levied on resources extracted in the state. It is estimated the allocation for road construction could amount to $10 million to $15 million annually.
Even with the infusion of funds, officials with the Wyoming Department of Transportation say they need an additional $250 million a year to keep up with needed road and bridge work.
WYDOT officials blame increased traffic, heavier vehicles, fewer federal dollars and escalating construction costs for the pressing need for more highway maintenance.
The special panel is expected to give special attention to sections of highway where traffic volume has reached, or is approaching, full capacity.
If approved, the bill would divert a portion of the tax revenue that now is funneled into the Legislature’s reserve fund and earmark it for highways. Some of that amount would be deposited into an existing multi-lane highway account that has not been funded, Casper’s Star-Tribune reported.
The Legislature is expected to consider this and other proposals once the new session begins in Jan. 13, 2009.