2008 Woodie Awards
Potential tolls may drive off motorists
Ali Myers
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: news
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Act 44, a new mandate for tolling Interstate 80 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which was signed by Governor Ed Rendell in July, would make the Interstate more expensive to travel than roads in Ohio, Indiana, and even New York. Besides the tolls, Act 44 would also increase current turnpike costs
Concerned state representatives and business owners addressed the Republic Policy Committee in a public hearing held at Monty's on Friday morning. The committee was chaired by Pennsylvania state representatives David Millard and Scott Hutchinson. Testifiers included Congressman John Peterson, who is working to encourage the state legislature towards repealing Act 44, Senator John Gordner, and Todd Spencer, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
"This will have a devastating impact." Peterson said during his testimony to the panel. "This will make the Interstate six times more expensive than Ohio, who just lowered their rates, eight times more expensive than Indiana, and 1.5 times higher than New York. We will have the two highest transportation roads side by side."
In a handout prepared by Peterson, he noted that the round trip cost for a car to travel I-80 will be $51 and $308 for a truck. These rates are set to increase to $66 and $400, respectively. This will cause many people to travel side roads instead of 80, which will create safety and traffic congestion concerns in other areas, particularly on smaller highways.
Peterson also said that the money made from tolling I-80 will go to support Philadelphia's and Pittsburgh's mass transit system. Out of the $400 million set aside to support mass transit, 90 percent of that will go to the two most populated cities in Pennsylvania.
"The freeways were never built to be tolled. This shouldn't be a rural/urban fight." Peterson adds.
Spencer spoke about the impact Act 44 would have on small business truckers. He opened his speech by saying he was "angered and saddened by the blatant public disregard" demonstrated by Governor Rendell and the Turnpike Commission in creating this law. In fact, as Senator Gordner would later mention, the hearing at Bloomsburg was "the first real public hearing" on the issue.
Concerned state representatives and business owners addressed the Republic Policy Committee in a public hearing held at Monty's on Friday morning. The committee was chaired by Pennsylvania state representatives David Millard and Scott Hutchinson. Testifiers included Congressman John Peterson, who is working to encourage the state legislature towards repealing Act 44, Senator John Gordner, and Todd Spencer, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
"This will have a devastating impact." Peterson said during his testimony to the panel. "This will make the Interstate six times more expensive than Ohio, who just lowered their rates, eight times more expensive than Indiana, and 1.5 times higher than New York. We will have the two highest transportation roads side by side."
In a handout prepared by Peterson, he noted that the round trip cost for a car to travel I-80 will be $51 and $308 for a truck. These rates are set to increase to $66 and $400, respectively. This will cause many people to travel side roads instead of 80, which will create safety and traffic congestion concerns in other areas, particularly on smaller highways.
Peterson also said that the money made from tolling I-80 will go to support Philadelphia's and Pittsburgh's mass transit system. Out of the $400 million set aside to support mass transit, 90 percent of that will go to the two most populated cities in Pennsylvania.
"The freeways were never built to be tolled. This shouldn't be a rural/urban fight." Peterson adds.
Spencer spoke about the impact Act 44 would have on small business truckers. He opened his speech by saying he was "angered and saddened by the blatant public disregard" demonstrated by Governor Rendell and the Turnpike Commission in creating this law. In fact, as Senator Gordner would later mention, the hearing at Bloomsburg was "the first real public hearing" on the issue.