OOIDA Call to Action - West Virginia members
May 8, 2009

West Virginia truckers: Time is running out to have your say on a proposed toll hike on the West Virginia Turnpike.

Last month, the West Virginia Parkways Authority unveiled a plan to boost tolls by 60 percent for all vehicles. Parkways officials stated that they are wary of toll increases driving traffic away from the turnpike. It is important that they know that indeed is the most likely result if their plan is put to action.

On the mainline, the current base toll for five-axle commercial trucks is $4.25. That toll would increase to $6.75 as part of the turnpike plan. Tolls for passenger vehicles would increase to $2 from a base toll of $1.25 under the preferred option offered by the Parkways Authority.

Parkways officials and the firm of Wilbur Smith Associates offered 11 scenarios for consideration, ranging from no increase to an 80 percent increase for all vehicles. The 60 percent increase is their favored option.

A recent study conducted in Ohio showed commercial vehicles left the state turnpike following a toll increase. Traffic returned when the toll increase was rescinded.

Officials in West Virginia need to know that when times are tough, truckers don't need many incentives to head for the toll-free roads.

Public hearings are scheduled to take place from 4:30 to 8 p.m. as follows:

• Tuesday, May 19, at Riverside High School in Kanawha Co., 1 Warrior Way, Belle, WV 25015;
• Wednesday, May 20, at Fayette County Courthouse, 100 Court St, Main Courtroom, Second Floor, Fayetteville, WV 25840;
• Thursday, May 21, at Raleigh County Armory, Rooms C-F, 200 Armory Drive, Beckley, WV 25801; and
• Friday, May 22, at Mercer County Courthouse, 1501 W Main St, Princeton, WV 24740.

Click here to read the hearing announcement.

The hearings will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will begin at 4 p.m. It will involve a "public forum" type-setting allowing attendees to view all available data, interact directly with Parkways Authority representatives and ask questions individually of authority representatives. Attendees who want to submit a written statement or comments may do so up until 6 p.m. After that, a "town hall" type hearing will convene where individuals can address authority members one by one.

If you cannot attend the hearing but would like to submit comments, fill out the form available here and mail it to: Parkways Authority, ATTN: "Comments on Proposed Toll Changes", P.O. Box 1469, Charleston, WV 25325.

Authority members are expected to vote on the tolls by the end of June. Higher rates could be charged on the turnpike as soon as July.