2008 Woodie Awards
The negative impact of tolls on I-80
View from The Voice
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: opinion
- Page 1 of 1
As college students, we don't have a lot of money, and any opportunity to save a dollar is fully taken advantage of. The majority of us have cars here with us, and if the outrageously high gas prices aren't enough to put a few holes in our pockets, the possibility of tolls on Interstate 80 will finish off what is left.
As printed in the article "Potential tolls may drive off motorists" in last week's issue of the Voice, a new mandate for tolling I-80, Act 44, was signed by Gov. Rendell in July.
This mandate would not only make the interstate more expensive than roads in Ohio, Indiana, and New York, but would raise current Interstate prices.
We as a staff feel that the potential tolling on I-80 will only have negative impacts.
As a town located right off the Interstate, the tolls would not only take money from the pockets of those traveling on I-80, but will also increase the traffic through town and have a negative impact on small businesses.
Tolls on I-80 would increase rates to $66 for a car, round trip, according to Congressman John Peterson. Although students may not travel round trip on I-80, a large number use the Interstate to visit friends at other schools, to go home to see their families, and commuters, who may use I-80 to come to campus every day.
Although the tolls would decrease the truck traffic on the Interstate, which may look like a positive thing, truckers will take alternative routes, through towns and on smaller highways, to save a buck or two. This means more traffic coming through our town.
Tolls on 80 would add $200 to each truckload of supplies, according to Senator John Gordner. This means an extra $6 a day, meaning truck drivers will be wanting to find alternative routes, keeping them off of 80 as much as possible.
As mentioned in last week's article, a representative of Resilite said the tolls would cost the business hundreds of thousands of dollars. With the possibility of these kinds of costs, small businesses in towns all along I-80 could be forced to close their doors.
Senator Gordner has already received more than 500 phone calls, e-mails, and letters from citizens and businesses opposing Act 44. Take a stand, and let your voice be heard.
Do you really want to have to dig even deeper into that pocket next time you want to go home, or decide to visit friends at another university?
As printed in the article "Potential tolls may drive off motorists" in last week's issue of the Voice, a new mandate for tolling I-80, Act 44, was signed by Gov. Rendell in July.
This mandate would not only make the interstate more expensive than roads in Ohio, Indiana, and New York, but would raise current Interstate prices.
We as a staff feel that the potential tolling on I-80 will only have negative impacts.
As a town located right off the Interstate, the tolls would not only take money from the pockets of those traveling on I-80, but will also increase the traffic through town and have a negative impact on small businesses.
Tolls on I-80 would increase rates to $66 for a car, round trip, according to Congressman John Peterson. Although students may not travel round trip on I-80, a large number use the Interstate to visit friends at other schools, to go home to see their families, and commuters, who may use I-80 to come to campus every day.
Although the tolls would decrease the truck traffic on the Interstate, which may look like a positive thing, truckers will take alternative routes, through towns and on smaller highways, to save a buck or two. This means more traffic coming through our town.
Tolls on 80 would add $200 to each truckload of supplies, according to Senator John Gordner. This means an extra $6 a day, meaning truck drivers will be wanting to find alternative routes, keeping them off of 80 as much as possible.
As mentioned in last week's article, a representative of Resilite said the tolls would cost the business hundreds of thousands of dollars. With the possibility of these kinds of costs, small businesses in towns all along I-80 could be forced to close their doors.
Senator Gordner has already received more than 500 phone calls, e-mails, and letters from citizens and businesses opposing Act 44. Take a stand, and let your voice be heard.
Do you really want to have to dig even deeper into that pocket next time you want to go home, or decide to visit friends at another university?