Anyone who has ever driven Interstate 40 across the middle of this state knows one thing: It's rough riding and, in places, there's not enough of it to handle traffic efficiently.
I don't really remember a trip I have made on I-40 when there hasn't been some kind of construction -- usually east of Little Rock. You'd think they'd finish sometime. I guess they do, but it doesn't seem as if they do.
Now, the state's Highway Commission is thinking tolls might be the answer to adding lanes to the interstate. They are considering the possibility because the federal government has given three states -- Missouri, Virginia and North Carolina -- permission to charge as long as the tolls are used for improvements of the tolled interstate. In other words, what is collected on a specific interstate has to be used for that interstate.
The feds are involved because interstates are part of the federal highway system, even though the states are responsible for upkeep.
Other than this special permission, tolling of interstates isn't allowed. The only way Arkansas would be allowed to toll I-40 is if one of the aforementioned states dropped out, and there's a theory that could happen.
A study on tolling I-40 shows the lowest toll that would pay for improvements is 9 cents a mile, or $9.90 for a one-way trip between Little Rock and Memphis. The "optimal" amount for big trucks would be 27 cents a mile, or $29.70 between the Rock and the home of the blues.
Would I really want to pay $10 to make that drive? Not really. Besides, I know other ways to get there.
I remember a trip to southwest Oklahoma three or so years ago where we paid tolls. It wasn't $10, but the consensus in the car was if you had to pay a toll, you should still have the fillings in your teeth when you finally got off the road.
I'm not against toll roads. I don't like them, but I am not against them as long as the cost is reasonable and the drive is smooth.
I-40 desperately needs additional lanes from about Conway to the east. What it needs the entire length between Fort Smith and Memphis is resurfacing -- regularly -- to keep it smooth sailing for drivers.
Hopefully, highway commissioners can figure out how to make more lanes and resurfacing happen.
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It was good to see the Rogers Historical Museum got a $10,000 grant from the state's historic preservation folks. The money, and the city's match, will be used to repair the windows in the Museum Annex at Second and Poplar streets. That building used to house the Rogers Public Library and, before that, the Post Office.
If you have never been inside, you should make an effort to go because it is a gorgeous old building. Lots of wood, and not the cheap paneling with which most of us grew up. Nope, it is real wood with rich tones, making it look like, well, like those libraries you see in old movies.
I once got on the mezzanine level and didn't think I could get down because I suffered an attack of vertigo. That was new to me, and scared me to death. I made it down to the main floor by holding on to first the stacks, then the stair railings.
The basement used to be a public Civil Defense shelter, and was opened when we were under attack by Mother Nature. City officials decided many years ago not to open it for liability reasons.
I used to think about how the building could be used for residential purposes. I have a lot of good ideas like that; I just don't have the money to do anything about all those good -- and expensive -- ideas.
Since I didn't have the wherewithal to re-purpose the building, the museum staff did, putting it to good use as a classroom and meeting space. It is an excellent example of taking a historic building and making it work in the 21st century.
Commentary on 07/31/2014