OOIDA Call to Action – Wyoming members
June 10, 2009

Wyoming truckers: The Wyoming Department of Transportation wants to talk about a move that will light your fire – placing tolls on Interstate 80. Make plans NOW to attend one of the five public meetings scheduled for next week in communities along the corridor to discuss these ill-conceived toll plans.

The pursuit by state officials to convert I-80 into a toll road is nothing new, but the consequences of authorizing a scheme to toll existing roadways need to be closely watched. WYDOT says tolls are needed “in response to projected shortfalls in revenue needed to maintain the roadway” and for the possibility of adding a third lane in each direction.

WYDOT officials need to know that you WILL NOT put up with efforts to pursue tolls on existing highways built with tax dollars. Why can’t they come up with a way to fund highway expansion without putting an additional burden on truckers and others already paying their fair share in taxes?

Apparently they need to be reminded that trucks are already paying a state fuel tax and a federal fuel tax on every mile they run. Tolling an existing highway is nothing short of double taxation.

WYDOT’s public meetings on the I-80 toll proposal begin at 5 p.m. each of the following days, with formal presentations scheduled at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.: 

• Monday, June 15, Laramie Recreation Center, 920 Boulder Drive, Laramie
• Tuesday, June 16, WYDOT Headquarters Auditorium, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne
• Wednesday, June 17, Old Union Pacific Railroad Depot, 400 West Front, Rawlins
• Thursday, June 18, WYDOT District Office, Room 169, 3200 Elk St., RockSprings
• Friday, June 19, Uinta County Library, Bridger-Carter Room, 701 Main, Evanston

Sessions will include question-and-answer periods and a forum for public comments. If you want to share your thoughts on the issue but cannot attend, you are encouraged to send a comment using the Contact WYDOT e-mail form or write to:

Tim McDowell
State Programming Engineer, WYDOT
5300 Bishop Blvd.
Cheyenne, WY 82009