Tennessee trekking toward toll lanes
The Tennessee Department of Transportation unveiled a 10-year, $15 billion transportation plan that includes multiple toll lane projects.
The agency said the plan includes funding from the annual TDOT work program budget of about $1.2 billion for at least the next decade, as well as the $3 billion state General Fund appropriation provided by a 2023 transportation law.
Perhaps the most notable component of the plan would allow the state to put money into creating four toll lanes that would be separate from general lanes.
The state would permit vendors to construct and operate new lanes dubbed as “choice lanes” and to collect tolls from travelers who choose to use them. Existing lanes would continue to be available for free.
Transportation Commissioner Butch Eley said the state would be able to invest funds to cover a portion of the cost for the choice lanes. In return, the state would get a percentage of the tolls collected from them for up to 50 years.
Interstate 24 from Nashville to Murfreesboro has been identified as the first choice to be outfitted with choice lanes. Other stretches of road eyed for them are Interstate 65 from Nashville to Interstate 840 in Spring Hill; I-24 along Moccasin Bend in Chattanooga; and Interstate 40 from its junction with Interstate 75 to state Route 158 west of downtown Knoxville.
The state would tap funds from the Transportation Modernization Act to cover needed funding.
One year ago, Gov. Bill Lee signed into law the $3.3 billion bill touted to tackle transportation needs throughout the state. The act includes authorization for the Tennessee DOT to pursue public-private partnerships.
The governor has said he wants to pursue partnerships to design, build, finance, operate and maintain express toll lanes, or choice lanes.
His administration has said choice lanes “give car and truck drivers the option to pay a user fee to access an additional lane with more reliable trip times, while keeping the option to use traditional highway lanes.” LL