Secretary Miller seeks technical fix to toll-relief law, urges waiver of Coleman Bridge repayment

Shep Miller, Virginia secretary of transportation, told the Transportation and Public Safety Subcommittee that the governor’s budget includes corrective language and policy changes to the state-funded toll-relief programs in Hampton Roads and a proposed write-off of VDOT internal debt for the Coleman Bridge.

Miller said the budget language will return the Commonwealth-funded expansion of the Elizabeth River Crossings (ERC) toll-relief program to its original intended geography — Norfolk and Portsmouth — and allow the new state-funded component to be used to cover any shortfall in the underlying ERC vendor-funded rebate so participants continue to receive the full benefit. “If the projection indicates the funding will not be sufficient, then we would adjust it as need be,” Miller said.

The existing ERC program provides a 50% rebate on two-axle, transponder-based tolls for qualifying residents; Miller said a second, commonwealth-funded component would offer an additional 50% rebate for households under $50,000. Miller…