U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers has introduced legislation that would prevent officials from installing tolls along I-95. Ellmers said the bill “No Tolls in North Carolina Act of 2012″ prevents the Federal Highway Administration from approving a pilot program that would add tolls on the interstate highway in order to pay for its expansion.
“While our highways need to be updated to meet growing needs and usage, North Carolina taxpayers should not have to bear further burdens after paying one of the highest gas taxes in the country,” she said.
North Carolina won preliminary approval from the Federal Highway Administration to collect tolls on Interstate 95 to pay for road improvements on 182 miles of the four lane interstate.
U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, a Lumberton Democrat, has also publicly said that he is opposed to tolling in North Carolina. Spokesman Dean Mitchell said by email that McIntyre “has heard from both individuals and businesses who are concerned about the impact that tolling will have on their pocketbooks.”
