From Senator Donna Campbell
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – As I travel across the district, many people approach me with questions about toll roads. Since there’s some misinformation out there, allow me to set the record straight.
Funding for our roads and highways has been neglected for years. I ran for office last year knowing that it would take a lot of hard work and many incremental successes to change that. This summer, I helped author the biggest boost in highway funding in over a decade without raising taxes or tolls. As a result, approximately $1.2 billion a year will be reallocated from the oil and gas severance tax and dedicated to roads. This is a big first step toward pay-as-you-go funding for our roads.
I also authored SB 1029 to prohibit toll booths from being placed on existing free lanes. If a tolling entity wants to toll an existing state highway they will have to add new lanes and capacity first. SB 1029 is already proving its worth and came up in discussions when transportation officials suggested tolling existing lanes on I-35 in a so-called “swap” with Texas 130. I am opposed to this and it’s the reason we passed the law.
In addition, I successfully worked on the Senate Transportation Committee to remove Loop 1604 from a public-private partnership that would open it up for possible tolling. Unfortunately, the House put Loop 1604 back into the bill (SB 1730) and I subsequently voted against it. I was the only state senator to do so.
There is no question that our roads are overcrowded. Without improvements, increased gridlock will continue to hurt commerce, slow emergency response times, and put the safety of our families at risk. These concerns led me to approve a $10 vehicle registration fee in Bexar County. I did not author this bill and it would have passed without my vote. However, after talking with fiscal conservatives, business owners, and emergency responders, I got involved to ensure that money would go to our highways and not San Antonio streetcars.
My preference has always been to expand capacity without tolls, but an immediate ban on all toll roads without new state funding would cripple mobility and make the situation worse. Needless to say, I do not get a vote on which local projects get funded or whether or not they may include tolls.
We live in one of the fastest growing areas in the United States. It’s going to take time, but I want to ensure Texas has the safest and most efficient highways in the nation. Working for incremental gains, we have already achieved more this year for pay-as-you-go funding than in the past decade, and I am committed to reducing our reliance on tolls.
Please don’t hesitate to contact my office with any questions. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you and represent your values in the Texas Legislature. Please travel safe and have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving holiday!
