Virginia state senators likely will soon vote on a bill that would require truck drivers to stay to the right when driving on Interstate 81 in the state.

The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously endorsed a measure last week that would prohibit trucks from driving in the left-most lane on I-81 where there are more than two lanes in one direction. The bill also would require trucks traveling at least 15 mph slower than the posted speed limit to keep to the far right of the interstate on stretches of two-lane road.

The bill, sponsored by Delegate Chris Saxman, R-Staunton, previously passed the House by a 99-0 vote. HB1346 now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Another bill that could impact I-81 also was approved by the transportation panel.

HB1376, sponsored by Delegate William Fralin, R-Roanoke, would allow the state to vary toll rates to reward drivers who travel in “off-peak hours” such as overnight. Fralin told The Roanoke Times the bill would give the Virginia Department of Transportation the flexibility to adjust toll rates on roads built under the Public-Private Transportation Act.

Virginia transportation officials gave preliminary approval last month to a plan that would widen I-81 to eight lanes, with separate lanes for cars and trucks. Under the plan – submitted by a consortium of private builders known as Star Solutions – the expansion would seemingly be paid for, in part, with toll money collected from both cars and trucks.

A bill passed by the General Assembly in 2002 permits tolls only on trucks. Legislation (HB905) sponsored by Delegate Leo Wardrup, R-Virginia Beach, would have allowed tolls on all vehicles driving the interstate. That bill, however, was defeated for the year in the Senate Transportation Committee on March 4.

Wardrup, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, told The Times two federal transportation officials warned him during a meeting that restricting tolls to trucks could put the I-81 project at a competitive disadvantage when it came to federal funding.

Virginia officials hope to receive money from a federal pilot program that encourages public-private partnerships on transportation projects.

State Secretary of Transportation Whitt Clement also urged the Senate Transportation Committee to repeal the prohibition on tolling cars.

“Having this option to toll cars would enable us to have a more robust revenue picture as we pursue federal funding,” Clement told the newspaper.

The House Finance Committee shelved another Fralin bill (HB1378), which would have granted tax credits equal to 25 percent of the tolls paid by commercial vehicles using roads built under the public-private act.

State lawmakers have until March 13 to vote on all pending legislation.