Many Americans are pinning high hopes on the economic stimulus bill that President Barack Obama stampeded through Congress last week: millions of jobs, repairs to crumbling infrastructure and a defibrillator jolt to the flat-lining economy.
But could Big Stim also help end the notorious backups at Delaware's Interstate 95 toll plaza?
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell thinks so.
The boss rooster of the Blue Hen State announced last week - in advance of the final vote on the $787 billion package - that the bill could help relieve backups at the Newark toll plaza by speeding a project to add two E-ZPass lanes in each direction.
According to a news release, the newly elected Democratic governor "has made eliminating the I-95 bottleneck at the much maligned toll plaza a priority on the list of the state's potential stimulus projects."
As one of the chief maligners of the Delaware toll trap, where unsuspecting motorists can be forced to wait an hour or more to pay that state's extortionate toll, I welcome Markell's recognition of the problem.
Certainly, an improvement in Delaware's toll collection would marginally improve that state's relations with residents of other states in the region. It might even be enough to persuade the governors of Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to drop their super-secret plans to invade and partition their pesky little neighbor.
Joe Rogalsky, communications director for the Delaware governor, said the toll plaza expansion is considered a "shovel-ready" project that has been on hold because of revenue shortfalls. If the funds start flowing, he said, construction could start this year, and the new lanes could open in 2011.
"It'll get things moving," Rogalsky said. "We can't guarantee that it will eliminate traffic jams there, but it will make a big difference."
What Markell's announcement does not address is the other gripe motorists have with the Delaware Turnpike: its exorbitant toll levels. At $4 each way for a passenger car, it is one of the worst values of any toll facility in the United States. Savvy travelers will continue to find routes to bypass the toll plaza - knowing that the turnpike saves them only five to 12 minutes under ideal circumstances.
Rogalsky said toll relief isn't in the cards.
"Unfortunately, looking at lowering tolls is not something we can do right now," he said. The spokesman said there are no plans to raise tolls - for now.
