Rep. Clemmons, Sen. Campbell Want Local Approval of Gov. Lee’s Toll Lane Projects
Lee’s transportation privatization law gives unelected appointees authority to build toll lanes on any state highway in all 95 counties — without local input
NASHVILLE—State Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, and Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, filed legislation to give local governments a say in whether the state should build a toll lane on a state highway within their jurisdiction.
Under Public Chapter 159, the Tennessee Department of Transportation may designate one or more lanes of any highway within the state, or a portion thereof, as a toll lane. To build this privatized toll lane, TDOT only needs the approval of the newly created “Transportation Modernization Board,” which consists of three political appointees, the governor or his/her designee, and the TDOT commissioner or his/her designee. There are no qualification requirements for these political appointees or designees in the law. There is also no statutory provision for local governments to have any voice in this process.
“Perhaps one of the more shocking parts of Gov. Bill Lee’s transportation privatization law was how he paved the way for the privatization of state roadways in all 95 counties with no local input,” said John Ray Clemmons, House Democratic Caucus chairman. “Most Tennessee families would be shocked to learn that Gov. Lee and the GOP supermajority gave unelected political appointees full discretion to decide whether a private company can charge them a toll to drive on the most heavily used roadways in their town.”
Rep. Clemmons added, “All of us drive on state highways multiple times a day just to get to school, church and the grocery store, but I’m not sure how many would be interested in paying a toll to do so. That’s what we pay gas taxes and vehicle user fees for.”
Sen. Campbell echoed Clemmons concerns.
“Not only did Gov. Lee and the Republican supermajority authorize toll lanes on every state highway, they also deprived local officials of any say in the matter while creating a larger state bureaucracy,” the Nashville senator said. “It’s incredibly troubling to think that a few handpicked, unqualified political appointees in a Nashville boardroom have the power to decide to build a toll lane in any community on any state roadway in Tennessee without any local input.”
Sen. Campbell added, “I’m willing to bet that there are many communities across this state that don’t want a toll lane in their town, and their locally elected officials should have a vote on the matter to carry out their constituents’ wishes.”
House Bill 1612 by Clemmons and Campbell, if enacted, would require a local government’s governing body to formally approve any proposed toll lane project on a new or existing state roadway within its respective jurisdiction.
