International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association’s Statement on VA Supreme Court Ruling in Danny Meeks, et al. v. Virginia Department of Transportation, et al.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the worldwide association representing toll facility owners and operators and businesses that serve them, issued the following statement reacting to the Supreme Court of Virginia’s ruling in Danny Meeks, et al. v. Virginia Department of Transportation, et al.  The ruling, issued earlier today, stated that tolls can be imposed on the Midtown and Downtown tunnels, indicating that the tolls can proceed as planned this winter.

“The Supreme Court of Virginia issued the correct ruling today in determining that tolls on the Midtown and Downtown tunnels are constitutional,” said Patrick D. Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA.  “Tolls are not a tax; they are a user fee. The truth is that tolls are a fair and precise way to pay for transportation facilities because there is a clear and direct link between use of the facility and payment for that use.  If you don’t use the facility, you don’t pay for it. You only pay a toll when you choose to drive on a toll road for a higher level of convenience, reliability and safety.”

Jones went on to react to today’s ruling by stating, “With an ever increasing burden on states and municipalities to pay for highway and infrastructure development and maintenance, tolling is an incredibly valuable tool that must remain in the toolbox for government officials.  Today’s ruling thankfully allows officials in the Commonwealth of Virginia to continue to embrace tolling as a proven, reliable funding method that is already delivering results in 34 states across the country.”

IBTTA recently released a new fact sheet addressing the top five myths circulated by opponents of tolling, including the myth that “tolling is double taxation”. The fact sheet, “Debunking the Myths of Highway Tolling”, outlines the truths about tolling as a successful and proven way to fund our nation’s highways and, in some situations, an increasingly appropriate and viable alternative to other forms of transportation funding and financing.

The fact sheet states some of the “primary benefits” of tolling include “better, safer roads; less congestion; more predictable trip times and reduced need for taxes to pay for roads.”  Tolls provide money today for projects that can be built in the near future and meet the demand for decades to come.