Toll roads in Wisconsin: Top Republican proposes the idea again to meet transportation needs
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin's most powerful Republican suggested toll roads could be a long-term solution to funding transportation needs as gas tax revenues dwindle due to a popularity of electric vehicles.
Speaking at a Legislature roundtable at the Wisconsin Counties Association Conference, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) warned about the future of our roads and highways and again floated the idea of implementing toll roads.
"Unfortunately, we now sit with a worse problem than we did, and I have constantly tried to try and get tolling into law," Vos said. "We have got to decide as a state and society how we are going to pay for our roads."
Vos has been an advocate of tollways for a decade, but he's been unable to convince key players which he acknowledged to reporters after his remarks.
"I'm going to look at it again," Vos said. "I am going to make an effort to say we need to figure out a long-term answer, but I have had challenges. I don't think Governor Evers is necessarily there. And I'm not sure my Senate Republican colleagues are necessarily there. So, I certainly am going to keep trying to talk about it."
The state's gas tax, on average, accounts for more than half of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's annual revenue. With more people opting to buy hybrid or electric vehicles, the reliance on gas is waning.
Wisconsin has taken steps to try and reduce that disparity, such as imposing an additional $75 licensing fee for hybrids and $100 for all electric vehicles. However, Vos doesn't believe that alone will solve the problem.
In 2019, Vos and former Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who currently represents Wisconsin's 5th Congressional district, supported tolls and advanced legislation to launch a toll road study. Gov. Tony Evers vetoed that plan.
Constructing toll roads would take time and resources, which is why Democrats prefer implementing more immediate solutions, said Britt Cudaback, a spokeswoman for Gov. Evers.
Evers' budget proposal calls for investments in electric vehicle charging stations and using a portion of the state sales tax on electric cars, auto parts, tires, and repair services to funnel more money in the transportation fund. This would allocate nearly $190 million from the general fund to the transportation fund over the biennium, according to Evers proposal.
During the roundtable, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said Republicans will discuss including more electric vehicle charging stations in the state budget.
Increasing the amount of state aid that flows into local governments, known as shared revenue, is another solution Republicans and Democrats are behind to help counties and municipalities upgrade roads and bridges.
"The way our system is set up now, there is no money for you all to be able to do that," Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard said speaking to members at the conference. "You have seen these cuts. We are not reinvesting, and we have laws and rules on the books that make it even harder for you."