Delegate Randy Minchew Has Found a Solution to the Automatic Toll Increases on the Greenway

Commuters in Loudoun county and beyond have been stuck with ever increasing tolls on the Dulles Greenway due to a bill then Senator Mark Herring wrote in 2008, SB 778.  The bill instructs the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to approve increases on the Greenway. It does not say the Commission ‘may’ approve the increases, it tells the SCC “to approve requests to increase toll rates”.  In several instances the bill says the SCC ‘shall’ approve increases in tolls on the Greenway, rather than saying the commission ‘may’ approve such increases. Thanks Attorney General Herring for insuring toll cost increases on the Greenway.

Delegate Minchew (R-10th)hopes to change that.  He is introducing a bill which will change ‘shall’ to ‘may’ in the Herring bill.  The bill has not yet been assigned a number. (I will update the post when I get the bill number.) A summary of the Herring bill reads:

Summary

Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988.  Gives the State Corporation Commission discretion to approve any request to increase tolls on the Dulles Greenway by a specified annual percentage increase. The measure also gives the Commission discretion to approve any additional increase in such tolls based on the increases in local property taxes when requested by the operator. Currently the Commission is required to approve such requests for toll increases.

Delegate Minchew’s bill will change that by saying the Commission MAY approve requests for toll increases but they are not required to do so. Thank you Delegate Minchew!