Toll Roads in Michigan’s Future?

Could charging tolls on some Michigan roadways and bridges help resolve our highway funding problem?

The state Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure recently forwarded a bill that would require an investigation.

MDOT senior policy analyst Aarne Frobom doesn’t doubt that the tolls could bring in money…

Speaking on the Michigan Department of Transportation’s “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast, Frobom said the initial federal guidelines for the Interstate Highway System prevented those roads from having tolls attached. Exceptions were made for some existing highways that were incorporated into the Interstate system, such as the Indiana and Ohio Toll Roads.

Now, the federal government is offering some exceptions.

Frobom says the proposed study would investigate the costs of setting up and running a toll system, potential revenues, and the effect on nearby roads that drivers might use to avoid paying the tolls…

It’s likely that any such system would be fully automated, with no use of traditional, staffed booths.

The bill goes on to the full Senate for consideration, and would then need to be passed by the House, and signed by the governor. You can hear the full podcast here.