Here & Now

Wisconsin Travelers' Mixed Reactions to Toll Road Proposal

Frederica Freyberg:

Governor Walker and the state legislature still can’t come to an agreement on transportation funding. Many legislators are open to raising the gas tax, but Governor Walker is strongly opposed to that idea. Among other approaches to new revenue, some lawmakers are now considering toll roads. We went to a rest stop on I-90 near Janesville to see what travelers think about putting tolls on Wisconsin roads.

Gary Joseph:

Well, I see toll roads, being from Illinois, they are maintained a little bit better than the roads that are not toll. And mainly I go probably in Milwaukee, 5, 6 times a year, and I-43 between Madison and Milwaukee is probably not the greatest. It’s like a rumble strip for about 60 miles.

William French:

Well, I think that’s probably not a very good idea. Seems to me that the highways serve the public good and not just the people travelling on it. I have traveled on roads in Illinois and other places that have tolls and I find it quite annoying.

Connie Hartshorn:

I don’t think it’s a bad idea generally. I’m from Minnesota. And Minnesota could do that, too. As long as it’s major highways, and the funds are dedicated for the highway.

Ninad Ranade:

I don’t think putting tolls is a good idea, because we already pay taxes, right so that money can be used to fund maintenance of the interstate and highways. So, it’s extra burden on the public.