Q: Wasn’t the Eisenhower Interstate System to be toll-free except for the existing toll roads, which were incorporated into the interstate system, such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike?
—Urban G. Rump, Woodstock
A: Congress initially limited existing toll roads to be included in the interstate system, but laws changed to "allow turnpikes on the interstate system." Congress debated whether to eliminate tolls on the existing toll roads before construction of interstates began in the late 1950s, but that "option would have cost hundreds of millions of dollars without creating any new interstate mileage," the Federal Highway Administration states on its website.
Lawmakers also discussed constructing toll-free interstates along the same routes as toll roads, but that would have used funds “needed for new highways” and “jeopardized the legitimate right of the toll authorities to pay their bondholders.” There are about 2,000 miles of toll roads incorporated in the 46,876-mile interstate system.
Q: I saw a U.S. mail truck on a Sunday morning. Does the mail run on Sundays in Atlanta?
—Debra Lary, Lithonia
A: The U.S. Postal Service began seven-day delivery for the holiday shipping season in November to "help keep up with the increased demand for package services," a USPS spokesman told Q&A on the News in an email. "So residents should not be surprised when they see U.S. Postal Service trucks in their neighborhoods on Sunday." The USPS has delivered Express Mail — a guaranteed overnight service – "365 days throughout the year, since its introduction more than 40 years ago," he wrote.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
