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Follow TURFWest VA Senator upset with new toll increase
Senator reacts to possible toll increase
By Tim Carrico, Weekend Anchor
September 22, 2013
The State Journal
CHARLESTON, WV - The price of tolls could go up, again. Earlier this month, the Governor's Highway Safety Commission proposed a new plan to lock toll booths on West Virginia's Interstates for the next 30 years.
State Journal Decision Maker host Bray Cary sat down with Southern West Virginia 6th District Senator Bill Cole, who represents Mercer, Mingo, McDowell and Wayne counties.
Senator Cole says it is unfair to bring more taxes on the people of southern West Virginia, when they're financially unstable.
"If you're not one of the in-state people traveling the interstate, that's great news," said Senator Cole. "But if you're one of the 25-percent, the most impoverished part of our state, is going to get a $250-million tax imposed on them."
Under proposed plans, motorists in southern West Virginia would have to pay $4.38 at each toll.
West Virginia needs to generate more than one-billion dollars to fulfill its plans to expand the state's infrastructure and maintain current roads.
Toll and fee increases would account for about $100-million of that billion.