Rep. Chalk makes paying off toll road a priority, suggests ways to do it

State Rep. Richard Chalk said he is exploring more ways to expedite the end of Cross Island Parkway tolls.

The Hilton Head Island Republican has previously said he wants proceeds from the sale of five acres of state-owned waterfront property to go specifically to pay down debt for the parkway rather than going to road work elsewhere in the state. The state acquired the land as a construction staging area to build the toll road.

Legislative staff is drafting a bill that would require the state to use money from property it sells to pay off the debt of road projects that land is associated with, Chalk said.

Chalk has talked to fellow lawmakers and S.C. Department of Transportation officials about the bill and has not encountered opposition, he said. He hopes it will pass during the next session, which begins in January.

"I think we've laid the groundwork to get the bill handled," he said.

The road opened in 1998, and motorists pay $1.25 each way. Those with Palmetto Passes pay $0.75.

The road's debt is scheduled to be paid off in 2022. The tolls would end after the debt is paid off.

The state began advertising an auction for the land in August. In October, state officials said they had rejected all bids, including one from the town, andplanned to negotiate with interested parties. But even if the bill passes and the land sells, the Hilton Head property's proceeds likely would make only a small dent in the $39.7 million still owed on $81 million borrowed to build the road.

Chalk also wants the state to forgive about $3 million it incurred in the road's early years when toll revenues weren't enough to pay the debt service.

Finally, if enough public interest exists to further expedite paying off the debt, Chalk said he would bring together state and local officials to find more money.

Chalk said he might ask town officials to use local food and beverage tax revenue to help pay down the debt. If the town made such a commitment, Chalk said, he would ask DOT officials to put more money toward paying off the toll road.

"That gives us much more of an argument for the state to help us," he said.

Chalk said he is encouraging his constituents who are frustrated by the tolls to contact town officials to ask them to support the idea.

Although eliminating the toll sooner than planned is a laudable goal, Mayor Tom Peeples said the town dedicates hospitality taxes to public safety.

"We can't give up a funding source and not replace it with something unless we're going to start reducing the firemen and the other services the town provides," Peeples said.

Peeples said he might be in favor of increasing the discount for frequent users, but he said he doesn't often hear complaints about the tolls and last fielded such a complaint about two years ago.

Chalk said complaints have been more prevalent at recent constituent forums.

"Almost everybody that says anything about it wants to get rid of the tolls," Chalk said. "For a lot of folks, it's a substantial amount of money."

Chalk said he believes a solution should be possible.

"It's a matter of where there's a will, there's a way," he said.