Rally to benefit fight against tolls

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Senator Louis Lucas will speak at a rally to halt tunnel tolls Monday evening at a Portsmouth venue.

Mansion Allure, a full-service restaurant, banquet and entertainment facility, will host a rally and mixer in an effort to raise funds that would support the opposition of tunnel tolls. The rally will take place on 463 Court St. from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sen. Lucas, along with Charles Greenhood, owner of Brutti’s and Mansion Allure, and other political leaders in the area will speak at the event. Updates on the lawsuit started to reverse the tolls will be given.

“The implementation of tunnel tolls in the Hampton Roads area will heavily affect small businesses, students from local universities and the military personnel who depend on our roadways,” Mansion Allure said. “This event will raise funds to support the ongoing legal battle against the tunnel tolls, while increasing awareness about the economic impact unfair tolls will have on the Hampton Roads community."

All proceeds from the rally will go toward Citizens for Accountability in Politics Political Action Committee. Guests are asked to make a $10 minimum donation.

Also on Monday, Governor Bob McDonnell's administration made official an action WAVY News 10 was first to report on last week . The administration signed off on an amendment which states, in part:

" Option to Postpone Tolling of Existing Project Assets:  The Department and the Concessionaire hereby agree that (i) they will collaborate with each other to explore strategies for postponing the commencement of the imposition, collection and enforcement of tolls on the Existing Project Assets in a manner that preserves the Concessionaire's financial position and availability of funds to pay for construction and (ii) the Department shall have the right, by delivering the concessionaire a notice oat least forty-five days' in advance, to postpone the commencement of the imposition, collection and enforcement of tolls on the Existing Project Assets until such date as directed by the Department, which date may be any date prior to the date on which the Concessionaire has achieved Substantial completion of the New Project Assets; provided, that such right may be exercised only to the extend that funds for the payment of Concessionaire Damages payable as a result of such postponement have been authorized or appropriated by the General Assembly and allocated by the CTB...."