MnDOT study evaluates tolling feasibility in state

The Minnesota Department of Transportation released a study that examines the feasibility of broader tolling in the state. In 2017, the Minnesota Legislature required MnDOT to look at modern tolling practices in other states, and the policy and legal considerations and a traffic and revenue analysis in Minnesota.

“The study is not a plan to implement tolling in Minnesota, but rather an analysis of tolling and its implications,” said Commissioner Charlie Zelle. The goal of the study was to evaluate the ability of certain rural and urban corridors to generate toll revenue.

The selected interstate and trunk highways represent typical corridors to provide revenue estimates and shouldn’t be perceived as recommended corridors, Zelle said.

Although the study presents the framework and analysis of estimated costs and revenue, and summarizes policies and other legal issues, MnDOT concluded that a more detailed study would be needed before any decision could be made to implement a specific toll project.

“Any implementation of tolling requires a balanced approach that aligns the goals of the projects with the needs of the users and the transportation network,” Zelle said.

“This study is a high-level assessment for decision-makers on whether to advance more detailed studies of toll feasibility on specific corridors. It’s intended to provide an understanding of potential revenue and policy issues and is not sufficient to support implementation.”

Among the other issues MnDOT considered in the study were current state and federal laws that restrict how tolling revenue can be collected and used, as well as the public’s opposition toward tolling, including privacy issues around automated enforcement.

The Legislature required that this study evaluate tolling as a transportation funding source by converting existing general purpose lanes of the studied corridors to toll lanes.

The MnDOT report can be found at www.dot.state.mn.us/govrel/reports/2018/tolling-study-report.pdf

Minnesota currently has toll facilities as part of the MnPASS network, which is designed to manage and reduce congestion.