Kanjorski Opposes Tolls on I-80

[WayneM]

The purpose of this email is to make you aware of my opposition to the plans of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to toll Interstate 80 in Columbia, Luzerne and Monroe Counties.

As you may know, in 2007, the Pennsylvania State Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law a bill to initiate tolling on Interstate 80 in an effort to generate revenue to address the Commonwealth's deteriorating highways and bridges. I oppose these efforts for several reasons. From my perspective, the current plans to toll Interstate 80 will result in an additional tax on Northern Pennsylvania commuters and commercial travelers to pay for transportation projects throughout the Commonwealth. All residents and businesses in the Commonwealth, not just the Northern tier of the State, should share the burden of paying for the improvement of the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure. In addition, tolling would increase the cost of doing business for area companies and would almost guarantee that more jobs would be lost as we try to recover from the current recession.

In order to toll an existing free interstate highway, approval is required from the United States Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and ultimately the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). In 2007 and 2008, PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission applied twice seeking approval to toll Interstate 80. Both times, I contacted the FHWA and DOT to voice my opposition and each application was sent back due to insufficient information. Unfortunately, PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission continue to seek approval for this plan and recently submitted supplemental information to the FHWA in a third attempt to toll Interstate 80. In response, I have personally written and met with the Administrator of the FHWA and the Secretary of the DOT twice to urge them to reject the latest plans to toll Interstate 80.

It is important to note that transportation planning begins at the state and local governmental level and the plans to toll Interstate 80 were approved by the Governor and the State Legislature, not Congress. It is my sincere hope that the Governor and Pennsylvania Legislature will find an alternative method to finance the much-needed improvement of the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure. Nevertheless, you can rest assured that I oppose tolling Interstate 80 and will continue to pressure the FHWA and DOT to reject the State's tolling application.

Thank you for allowing me to update you on this important matter. Please feel free to continue to call, write, or email on any matter that concerns you.


Sincerely,

Paul E. Kanjorski
Member of Congress

[frankg]

to his credit, he has been consistently against the tolls once he saw how unpopular it was.
that was a complete about face from his proposal to expand it to other roads.

[WayneM]

I'm also curious if this would have read differently after the elections, but credit is given where credit is due. I encourage him to stay the course and keep this ludicrous attempt to ream the commuters and others of PA off the table.

[lenven]

From what I understand, a decision will be made very soon. If this doesn't pass, I have no doubt they will be looking at other sources of revenue - possibly more gas tax hikes or other increases.

[WayneM]

Here's a novel idea - cut back on spending on other things.