Lambi Opposes I-70 Tolls; Lawmakers Take Issue to the Public

Ask Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi his thoughts on the much-ballyhooed Interstate 70 toll proposal and he'll likely say he's fine with it—as long as it begins in Foristell and not in .

Lambi said plopping a tollway for a 200 mile stretch of Missouri's most trafficked highway would have significant consequences for Wentzville.

The city's board of aldermen were no less concerned at their last meeting, where they asked Lambi if he intends to band together with neighboring mayors to lobby for the proposals demise.

Lambi said he had yet to be contacted by any Missouri legislator about the possible toll road that would charge drivers between Independence and Wentzville. He also said he didn't know of any local politician in favor of the proposal.

More than 100 concerned citizens attended a public forum in Columbia on Monday to hear from local lawmakers and Missouri Department of Transportation officials.

They left the meeting no more certain a toll wouldn't be built, a Columbia Missourian report said.

From the report: 

MoDOT has outlined several theoretical plans to revamp I-70.

The plans, ranging from $1.2 billion to $4 billion, would add at least one lane in each direction and increase vehicle capacity on a corridor that is the lifeblood of Missouri's economy, Keith said.

The most common solution proposed to fund the interstate overhaul is the implementation of tolls.

To do this, the department hopes legislators will authorize a public-private partnership. If a partnership were created, a consortium of investors would front the department the necessary amount to rebuild the highway. The investors would then lease the highway and receive payment through tolls.

Meanwhile, Missouri senators, according to KMOX, officially introduced a bill that could put I-70 on the path to becoming a toll road.

The bill, introduced by Springfield Republican Sen. Mike Kehoe authorizes the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to form a partnership with a private company, which would provide funds for the upkeep of the highway and, in return, would be allowed to establish a tollway on I-70 between Wentzville and Blue Springs for reimbursement, KMOX reported.

From the report:

Kehoe said he was unsure whether a toll road was the best option for creating funds, but that the proposal was a way to begin the discussion of potential options.

“Projects like this are going to have to become part of Missouri’s transportation conversation,” Kehoe said. “Whether this is the solution or we come up with another solution. Something has to be done.”

MoDot is focusing on I-70 because it is “the main street of Missouri,” and “it’s just worn out," MoDot Director Kevin Keith said, according to the Columbia Tribune.

From the report: 

The Federal Highway Trust Fund is insolvent, he said, and increasing fuel taxes is not the answer, he said...

Keith said the toll road approach would require legislative authority to pursue a “public-private partnership” needed to finance the project and is the only way to feasibly rebuild I-70 from Wentzville to Independence before that section of highway turns into a “parking lot.”

What do you think? Do you want a tollroad created to better fund road projects needed along I-70? Or do you think it's just another form of taxing? What would you ask a local lawmaker if you had the chance? Weigh in with a comment below.