Lee’s Toll Roads Bill To Be Heard In Government Operations Committee
Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook & tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill endorsed by Governor Bill Lee championing toll roads is up for a vote in the House Government Operations Committee on March 6th, 2023.
House Bill 0321 (HB 0321) sponsored by Representative William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44) and its companion Senate Bill 0273 (SB 0273) sponsored by Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27) known as the Transportation Modernization Act of 2023 (TMA) started out as a caption bill. The amendment that makes the bill can be viewed here.
The TMA allocates $3 billion for a new fund that will change the way the state deals with road infrastructure. The gas tax has previously funded the $1.2 billion annual budget for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). House Bill 0321 will not raise the gas tax but instead will increase registration fees that owners of electric vehicles pay, and create public-private partnerships for the creation of “choice” lanes.
The proposed language in the bill changes the current language in Tennessee Code, Section 54-3-105. In this section of Tennessee law, wherever the words “tollway fund” or “toll revenues” appears, the bill would change it to “user fee fund” or “user fee revenues.” “Tollway projects” or “toll facility projects” becomes “user fee facility projects.”
No matter their name, these toll lanes will be built by private companies, and then the state of Tennessee will lease the lanes. The initial $3 billion will be split four ways, an average of $750 million, among the state’s four main metro regions. The toll lanes will be brand new lanes, reviewed by a five-member board. No existing lanes will become toll lanes. TDOT funding would be funneled toward repairing rural highways.
Thirteen chambers of commerce representing businesses in Blount County, Bristol, Clarksville, Chattanooga, Jackson, Kingsport, Knoxville, Lawrence County, Maury County, Memphis, Nashville, Rutherford County, and Williamson County are supportive of the plan.
The contact information for the members of the House Government Operations Committee is listed below should you wish to reach out to them before the March 6th meeting.
Rep. John Ragan (R) – Chair – rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-4400
Rep. Jay Reedy (R) – Vice-Chair – rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-7098
Rep. Gino Bulso (R) – rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-6808
Rep. Karen Camper (D) – rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-1898
Rep. Dale Carr (R) – rep.dale.carr@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-5981
Rep. Jesse Chism (D) – rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-6954
Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D) – rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-4410
Rep. John Crawford (R) – rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-7623
Rep. Rick Eldridge (R) – rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-6877
Rep. Jeremy Faison (R) – rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-6871
Rep. Yusuf Hakeem (D) – rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-2702
Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D) – rep.caleb.hemmer@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-2035
Rep. Justin Jones (D) – rep.justin.jones@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-2184
Rep. Kelly Keisling (R) – rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-6852
Rep. Sabi Kumar (R) – rep.sabi.kumar@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-2860
Rep. Justin Lafferty (R) – rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-4110
Rep. William Lamberth (R) – rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-1980
Rep. Mary Littleton (R) – rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-7477
Rep. Pat Marsh (R) – rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-6824
Rep. Greg Martin (R) – rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-2548
Rep. Jake McCalmon (R) – rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-4389
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
How are residents going to be able to afford tolls if they can’t afford gas or groceries now. Our gas and other taxes pay for road repairs. Why are we paying more. Where are our tax dollars going. Stop lining government pockets and take care of the state and its people.
EVs that require an outside source of electricity are NOT better for the environment. Mining lithium, nickel, other is not an improvement. Using our natural resources to generate electricity for cars is NOT an improvement. So this lane would have charging stations, a toll for users that want high speed. Have you thought about wrecks and deaths? Plus the outside builder has ownership and maintains the road and charging stations, I presume. THEN TAXPAYERS GET TO PAY RENT SO EVs can use it. The toll will not pay for it unless everybody uses it. Not happening anytime soon. WHY IS TN NOT LEADING the way on self- generating cars. You know, similar to the Prius??? Those who benefit are the contractors and power companies, and those who want a cool 150K CAR. WE ARE NOT READY FOR THIS. YOU have not considered the implications. And NO, I don’t dislike Elon Musk. I am actually a fan.