WASHINGTON 鈥� A bill that aims to block the inside the Capital Beltway, unless the road is widened, has been dealt a blow in Richmond.
A聽state Senate subcommittee on tolling on Monday voted not to support , introduced by Sen. Chapman 鈥淐hap鈥� Petersen, D-Fairfax.
The senator鈥檚 bill is one of several seeking to delay or block Gov. Terry McAuliffe鈥檚 plan to add tolls to I-66 inside the Beltway during the morning and afternoon rush hours for solo drivers.聽 On the House side, Del. Jim LeMunyon, R-Oak Hill, has proposed a similar bill.
鈥淲e have a unique opportunity right now to open up I-66 and make it more friendly for drivers and commuters,鈥� Petersen said.
The state does have plans to add two new toll lanes to the interstate outside the Beltway by 2021.
Petersen said that adding only new toll lanes outside the Beltway and no new improvements inside will lead to a 鈥渘ightmare scenario.鈥�
鈥淵ou鈥檒l have tolls inside the Beltway which will add a lot of extra cars paying high dollar amounts, which will of course squeeze out the existing traffic, without any capacity improvements,鈥� he said.
Supporters of the governor鈥檚 plans hope the addition of toll lanes on I-66 will get cars moving faster, in addition to encouraging commuters to carpool or take public transit.
Petersen says he鈥檒l be disappointed if the bill fails to move forward after a full committee vote on Wednesday.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to keep pushing the bill forward in the full committee, I鈥檝e also got a few tricks up my sleeve,鈥� Petersen said.
Petersen says other options include attaching amendments to different pieces of legislation, including an upcoming budget bill.
