12/21/05-Rep. Paul Marcotte, R-Union, wants to speed up a long-dormant effort to construct a multi-county highway that would run through southern Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties by making it a toll road.
Marcotte said the highway is needed to serve the fast-growing suburban communities in the area by connecting Interstates 75/71 to AA Highway and U.S. 27.
Turning the route into a toll road that would pay for itself would help get the project done sooner while many other projects are ahead in line for transportation dollars that are scarce in the state, Marcotte told The Kentucky Post.
Marcotte, who will retire from the Legislature after the 2006 session, doesn’t have a specific route in mind, but he said state Highway 536 could be a starting point.
Marcotte said the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet could work out the details of the plan.
The state operates two toll roads, the newspaper reported. They are the Audubon Parkway connecting Owensboro and Henderson and the William H. Natcher Parkway between Bowling Green and Owensboro.
The General Assembly would need to approve any toll road project. The 2006 session begins Jan. 3.