Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the progress of the nine states participating in the Federal Highway Administration's Toll Facilities Pilot Program, focusing on: (1) project status, estimated construction costs, and start and completion dates; (2) obstacles the states encountered in starting their projects; (3) toll revenue effects on project financing; and (4) states' planned use of innovative toll collection techniques. GAO also provided information on two privately financed toll projects and a California program to test toll projects funded by public-private ventures.
GAO found that: (1) Delaware, Georgia, and Pennsylvania started construction projects, California, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia were involved in planning and other preconstruction activities, and Colorado decided not to participate unless it received federal funds specifically for the pilot project in addition to its regular apportionment; (2) although most states encountered limited opposition to tolls, they had to overcome opposition related to neighborhood disruption and some legal and environmental obstacles; (3) toll financing provided states with an additional revenue source for road construction and maintenance; (4) a low federal funding share could encourage states to limit toll use to high-traffic roads; (5) such toll collection innovations as automated vehicle identification equipment could help relieve congestion at toll plazas; (6) Virginia, Illinois, and Missouri were considering privately financed toll road projects; and (7) California recently passed legislation to test public-private funding ventures for road construction.
