Are toll roads in NC eventually going to go free?

[Newbe10]

Originally Posted by getatag

Southbound and boss hit it right on the head.......
TOLLS NEVER GO AWAY. It's just too easy a revenue source!

NJ and Penn Turnpikes, NY Thruway, etc. all toll roads that were designed to go away once the build cost was recouped. HAHAHA!!!!!!!!
I guess you could argue the build cost never goes away because of the constant upgrades and repaving.

I agree. I have seen the same from neighboring states like Oklahoma. Recently, the president of the Turnpike Authority in Oklahoma has said that the states vast network of toll roads are supposed to become "non-tolled" in 2028, even though the portions of I-44 that constitute the Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes were supposedly paid for a LONG time ago.

Anyway, while I do agree that it will be a long time from now, I do see toll roads in states like NC and TX having their tolls removed in the future. When? It is hard to say.

[parkman]

Also, it appears the general trend is more tolling, not less. State highway budgets don't appear to be keeping up with need, and so folks seem to see "use based" funding (aka tolls) as the way to go.

[SunnyKayak]

Gov. Pat McCrory's administration supports a bill to eliminate a mandate on North Carolina transportation officials to build toll-road projects in Gaston County, the northern Outer Banks and near Wilmington.

Tata: NC DOT backs deleting 3 toll-road mandates - News14.com

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Gov. Pat McCrory's administration supports a bill to eliminate a mandate on North Carolina transportation officials to build toll-road projects in Gaston County, the northern Outer Banks and near Wilmington.

Tata: NC DOT backs deleting 3 toll-road mandates - News14.com

Well, that's a good thing. The toll road in Gaston would not be used enough to ever pay for it. I've heard that if they kill the Garden Parkway NC DOT will widen 85 to exit 10.