The Beartooth Highway, which noted traveler Charles Kuralt once referred to as "the most scenic drive in America," may be closed for the summer due to mudslides from a wet season to the east of Yellowstone. The pictures of the slide in the Billings Gazette are rather good. While the water is welcome news to those fighting off a long drought in the area and for keeping down forest fires, it has put a road that I travel at least once a summer for the stunning views completely out of commission.

Almost ten years ago, Terry Anderson and Mark Liffman proposed that maybe it was time for the road to become a toll road due to its high maintenance costs and extensive tourist travel. By linking the costs imposed on the road by tourists with revenues to support the road, the road would be better maintained and the citizens of Montana would not be the ones footing the maintenance costs for thousands of out-of-staters each year. A multiple-use or year-round pass for locals could help keep the costs down for the frequent travelers over the roadway.

With the recent mudslides, this might be the best time yet for a toll on the road. One can guarantee that the effort to get the road back up and running would kick into overdrive if Yellowstone National Park and the State of Montana were missing out on potential toll dollars with each passing day.