McDonnell: Tolls On I-95 Are Necessary

A bipartisan group of 10 Virginia House Delegates is asking the state's congressional delegation to join them in opposing a plan to place tolls on I-95. At the same time, Gov. Bob McDonnell insists the tolls are coming.

The Virginia Department of Transportation's plan includes a single toll plaza in Sussex County near North Carolina, but the legislators who oppose it say it will serve as a precedent for toll plazas throughout the I-95 corridor.

Governor McDonnell says the tolls are necessary.

"This is something I talked about when I was running for office, that we were going to use every tool possible to be able to improve the quality and safety of our roads," McDonnell says. "Ninety-five is a dangerous road; it's one of the busiest roads in America, and it needs to be improved."

McDonnell says his major transportation funding proposal might make more tolls unnecessary.

"I've got a big bill in front of the General Assembly, about $845 million," McDonnell says. "If that bill passes, than I can take another look at some of these tolls, but right now I'm not going to say we're not going to do it, because it's the only way to get these improvements done."

McDonnell sounded certain VDOT's toll plan will not change, as it's been in the works since 2006.