California to take a toll on truckers?

Hasta la vista, traffic jams? In a bid to relieve highway congestion, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes to add special toll lanes—including some exclusively for trucks—to the state's freeways. According to published reports, Schwarzenegger also plans to speed up road construction by easing environmental reviews. The proposals are part of a multibillion-dollar public works agenda announced in the governor's annual "State of the State" speech. Among the projects under consideration is a plan to build a dedicated truck lane on the Long Beach Freeway, leading to the busy ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Another would add a toll lane for all vehicles on Interstate 680 in the Bay Area, where rates would vary depending on the time of day and degree of congestion. If state lawmakers approve the proposals, local officials would then make the final decisions.