The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently opened bids for a pilot program to test the addition of tolls on existing interstate highways to fund their reconstruction.
The call for proposals was authorized under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century in 1998 and issued under the Interstate System Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program (ISRRPP).
Under the ISRRPP, up to three states are permitted to collect tolls for the purpose of rehabilitating interstate highway corridors that need functionally improved or are not adequately maintained.
Three states had previously been chosen but never went forward with establishing tolls. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act reopened the slots in 2015.
“The reopening of the ISRRPP offers a significant opportunity to show the utility and value of tolling to address the greater need to reconstruct America’s aging Interstate system,” Patrick Jones, International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association executive director and CEO, said.
Bids will be accepted through Feb. 20. After the application-review process is completed, up to three states will be chosen, and they will be expected to satisfy ISRRPP criteria within three years.
If the FHWA decides to select fewer than three applications, the agency will again solicit bids.
The FHWA will hold an informative webinar Nov. 13.