Fired-up residents fighting the tolls

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Portsmouth State Senator Louise Lucas wants concerned residents to come to Richmond to the General Assembly for a so-called anti-toll rally.

Lucas will appear before the Senate Finance Transportation Sub-Committee chaired by Virginia Beach State Senator Frank Wagner. During the meeting, she will present her $500 million budget amendment that could reduce the proposed tolls by 50 cents.

Currently, the proposed rush hour toll is $1.84 each way for the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels and would likely begin in Dec. So, WAVY.com went to Portsmouth's Truxton Historic District to talk to residents about the trickle down effect the expensive tolls could have.

Civic League President Chester Benton said, "There's a lot of hardship. A lot of people in Truxton are on a fixed income and travel back and forth from Portsmouth to Norfolk on a daily basis."

Benton believes the tolls will only add to the financial problems of the residents and many are angry. 

"No one was adamant about doing anything about it. I was hitting my head up against the wall," Charles Greenhood, the owner of Brutti's Restaurant in Downtown Portsmouth, said.

Greenhood said he's pounded the table on the real dangers of tolls on the tunnels. But, most of the rage, he says, fell on politicians' deaf ears.

"I think our elected leadership here and across the state have let us down. They are suppose to give us toll-free roads," Greenhood added.

"To say we have been asleep at the wheel is wrong," Portsmouth Councilman Steve Heretick countered. Heretick has been criticized for initially saying he was surprised to hear about the tolls.

Heretick insists the public-private partnership and Governor Bob McDonnell failed to consider the economic impact of tolls.

"We were told before any contract was signed in respect to tolls that there would be an economic impact study on Portsmouth...that did not happen. I found out what the tolls would be when you called," Heretick added.

"The thing I'm upset about is the public does not understand. It was not the members of the General Assembly that made this happen," State Senator Louise Lucas said. "My $500 million amendment would reduce the price of the tolls from a high of $1.84 each way. That would bring down the tolls by as much as 50 cents because it would lower the cost of construction."

Greenhood told WAVY.com, "I will fight to the bitter end to see something is resolved, so our citizens are not thieved, which is exactly what this is."

The General Assembly meeting in Richmond is tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m.