Wyoming Legislature is reviewing two bills that may hit Wyoming residents in their pocket books — and their gas tanks.
Two bills have made it onto the Senate floor. One bill will empower the state’s transportation commission to make plans regarding a future toll highway running the entire length of I-80. Another will levy a fuel tax.
The transportation commission will be given authority to explore how best to expand the entire highway to three lanes in each direction. Other details to be decided, but not outlined in the bill, include what groups (if any) are exempt from the toll and whether to create a program for local communities suffering negative impacts from the toll.
The bill grants most decision-making power to the commission. No budget amounts or schedules are outlined in the bill. Toll amounts are to be set based on the vehicle’s impact to the road surface.
The tolling bill has been introduced in the senate, thus far. No voting has taken place.
A bill to add a fuel tax in Wyoming made its way through the Wyoming House and will add 10 cents to the current tax, set at 14 cents. The increase includes snowmobile, motorboats and other recreational vehicles.
The tax will be used for transportation revenue for fixing and maintaining roads and highways. The bill passed the house and is headed for a vote in the senate.
According to a Gallup poll, the average American drives 46 miles a day for a commute. The tax increase would equal an average of $1,633 for the average American. That figure may be higher for Wyoming residents who commute.
Laramie resident Thomas Fang said he was not against the increase in the fuel tax.
“I think it would have very little impact on me. I only drive in the city,” Fang said.
However, Fang said he was not in favor of a toll along I-80. He said occasionally he would pay the toll, but would probably try his best to avoid it.
“How else am I supposed to get where I am going? That is the only freeway,” he said. “Toll roads are only made for getting you somewhere faster. There would be no point in having a toll.”
