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I‑80 tolling study fails introduction after heated floor debate
Summary
Senate File 73, a bill to authorize a tolling study/authority for Interstate 80, failed to secure the two‑thirds majority required for introduction; sponsor warned of a $600 million shortfall for highway maintenance and cited crash data, but the measure did not advance (18–12, 1 excused).
Senate File 73, a proposal to authorize study and potential development of tolling authority for Interstate 80, failed to clear the two‑thirds threshold for introduction during the Feb. 10 floor session.
Senator Driscoll, who moved the bill, described it as a three‑step planning process that would allow the Wyoming Department of Transportation to work with the Federal Highway Administration and state bodies to evaluate possible tolling. He stressed the highway funding gap and safety concerns, saying, “We're 600,000,000 short on highway funding,” and cited crash and fatality figures for I‑80 as part of his rationale for beginning a planning effort.
Driscoll emphasized the bill would not itself implement tolls: it is intended to create a structure and plan, subject to federal and state approvals, before any legislative approval for tolling would occur. Opponents objected to authorizing a tolling process or raised policy concerns; the floor took a roll-call vote on introduction.
The clerk announced the introductory vote for SF73 as 18 ayes, 12 no and 1 excused, a result short of the two‑thirds majority required for introduction. The clerk declared that Senate File 73 had failed introduction. Senator Driscoll said he was asking for a chance to study the funding shortfall and said planning now was better than waiting.
Because SF73 failed introduction, it will not proceed to a committee for further drafting or hearings unless reintroduced under new motion in a future session.
