OOIDA Information Update – Virginia members
December 30, 2010

Dear Member,

Your input is being sought on private sector proposals to improve U.S. Route 460. A public hearing is scheduled for early January.

The new Route 460 would run parallel to the existing highway. The proposed 55-mile highway would stretch from Petersburg to Suffolk. Three companies – Multimodal Solutions LLC, 460 Partners Inc., and Cintra Infraestructuras of Spain – are vying for the right to build, operate, maintain and collect tolls on the roadway.

Proposed toll rates in and out of the Hampton Roads ports could prove to be pricey for truckers.

As Land Line reported online and in its December/January issue, one of the companies would charge truckers a flat rate of $75 for a full-length trip, while another would charge 14 to 18 cents per mile. The third company, Cintra, has not included truck tolls so far in its public materials.

Tolls for cars would range from $5 to $11 under the proposals. Would-be contractors are also asking for toll rates to be indexed to the rate of inflation.

An independent panel appointed by the Virginia Department of Transportation already held a public meeting to discuss the project early this month. The next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 6, at Windsor High School, 24 Church St., Windsor, VA 23487.

The public has until Jan. 10 to make comments. Written comments about the project are being accepted at VDOT’s Innovative Project Delivery Division, 1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219. The agency is also accepting comments by e-mail at Route460PPTA@vdot.virginia.gov, and through the project website at http://www.route460ppta.org/.