The Alliance advocates completing our multimodal transportation system in order to preserve our economic competitiveness, relieve congestion, improve air quality and strengthen our community’s overall quality of life. The region has identified the Western and Southern Wake freeways as top priorities; these roadways are decades from completion under current funding scenarios. We don’t like the thought of paying tolls any more than anyone else, but our region is already paying a “congestion toll” and getting nothing in return. We support a study to determine if the roads can indeed be built faster through toll financing or another means.

The western and southern sections of I-540 are under consideration for the viability of tolling to accelerate construction, while the northern section of I-540 is not a toll road because funding was available when it was built. We affirm the desire for fairness, and yet we recognize that, in light of current funding realities, waiting for the “fair” and “free” (traditional funding) option will be just that – waiting.

The Alliance believes that our region’s focus must remain on how to best accelerate the construction of the Southern and Western Wake freeways. Indeed, it would not be fair to the citizens and businesses in southern and western Wake County to ignore consideration of a mechanism that offers the potential for moving the construction of our desperately needed freeways up a decade, and perhaps a generation, faster. Right now, construction of the Western Wake freeway is not expected to reach Holly Springs before 2020, and there is no construction date yet set for the southern portion. If the turnpike concept would turn out to be a viable means of accelerating construction of I-540, that would potentially provide our region’s motorists with a new option much sooner. Of course, all existing alternative roads would remain as non-toll options, just as they are today.

If tolls are found to be viable and the region moves forward with the turnpike concept in order to accelerate construction of the Triangle Parkway and I-540, we will advocate for a fully electronic toll road along the lines of the 407-ETR in Toronto or the express lanes on the Pocahontas Parkway in Petersburg, Va. - no one has to stop, or even slow down, to pay tolls on these lanes. Transponder and optical character recognition technology allow for high-speed toll collection.

If tolls are found to be viable and the region moves forward with the turnpike concept in order to accelerate construction of the Triangle Parkway and I-540, we will advocate for a method that will allow for the casual user to easily travel on these facilities.

If tolls are found to be viable and the region moves forward with the turnpike concept in order to accelerate construction, the Alliance will advocate for variable value pricing to provides discounts during off-peak times and to encourage carpooling. A toll I-540 or Triangle Parkway would be unique among area freeways in that the ability to vary the price would guarantee free-flow.

The growth is already here and more is on the way – Wake County is expected to be the largest county in the state within the decade and we are among the fastest-growing metropolitan centers in the US. The Alliance is advocating for the accelerated completion of a key link in our mobility infrastructure for an area that has already experienced significant development, in order to allow growth to occur effectively in Wake County rather than forcing it to move to outlying areas. Eastern Wake County and western Nash and Wilson counties – even though the distance is much further away – have quicker commutes to Raleigh and Research Triangle Park than portions of southern Wake County today.

The Alliance has consistently advocated for the completion of a multimodal transportation system in Triangle. Our support for regional transit has been unequivocal and continues to this day, even in light of recent challenges in federal funding for the rail system. The portion of I-540 under consideration by the Turnpike Authority lies in southwestern Wake County—an area not served by the proposed initial or expected follow-up rail phases.

A completed I-540 will provide relief for congested roadways and enable buses to better serve the corridor and offer express service along the freeway. Indeed, a completed 540 would provide enhanced travel service for buses, carpools, vanpools, solo drivers and families, taxis, and trucks. Rail transit service may also be a future option for this corridor. Of course, any fixed route alternative could not serve the needs of all users, and the freeway alternative would still be required. The bottom line is that it cannot be an either or decision—we must develop an effective, multimodal system for mobility success going forward."