Wyo. may start charging tolls to drive on I-80

Wyo. may start charging tolls to drive on I-80


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SALT LAKE CITY -- If a proposal is passed in neighboring Wyoming, people driving from Utah into that state may have to pay.

Transportation officials in Wyoming say they just don't have enough money to maintain Interstate 80 the way they need to. So, one of the options they're considering is tolling the freeway.

"We just don't have enough funds to keep I-80 in the shape that it is, much less with the growth that we anticipate. So they are looking at all the options available, tolling being one of them," explained Tim McDowell, spokesman for the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

McDowell says the state is just studying the possibility of tolling the road for now, and they're taking ideas from the public. In fact, there is a public hearing scheduled Thursday night in Rock Springs and Friday in Evanston. "We know it will affect a lot of people, but bottom line: We just don't have the revenue to keep up with what we have," McDowell said.

He says the final report will go to the legislature in the fall. Lawmakers will then decide whether to charge drivers on I-80, either with a toll booth in the middle of the state or one on each end.

Meeting information

  • Rock Springs meeting
    5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18
    Meeting will be held at the WYDOT District Office, 3200 Elk Street, Rock Springs.
  • Evanston meeting
    Friday, June 19
    Meeting will be held at the Uinta County Library, 701 Main Street, Evanston.
    Doors will open at 5 p.m., with an overview about the tolling study to be presented at 5:30 p.m., followed by questions from the public and open discussion. The overview will be repeated at 6:30 p.m., followed by another question and discussion session.

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Story compiled with contributions from Paul Nelson and Mary Richards.

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