Lawmakers Urge USDOT Secretary to Reject I-80 Tolling

Robbins among group saying plan would have "significant consequences"

Letter to US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood (PDF)

State Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) and nine of his colleagues recently called on US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to reject the proposed tolling of Interstate 80.

"We write as members of the Pennsylvania Senate to strongly oppose the conversion of Interstate 80 into a toll road," the legislator wrote in the letter to Secretary LaHood. "We are deeply concerned about the significant economic consequences such a conversion will have on our state's businesses and residents as well as the considerable amount of debt the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will incur if this proposal is approved."

In addition to Senator Robbins, the Senators who signed the letter to Secretary Peters include: Lisa Baker (R-20), Lisa Boscola (D-18), Jake Corman (R-34), Jane Earll (R-49), John Eichelberger (R-30), Mike Folmer (R-48), John Gordner (R-27), Jeffrey Piccola (R-15), and Mary Jo White (R-21).

"I want to make it clear from the outset that I voted against Act 44 when it came before the Senate and I remain strongly opposed to this proposal for a number of reasons. There are numerous financial, administrative and quality of life issues that remain unresolved even as this proposal moves forward," Senator Robbins said. "Our letter to Secretary LaHood clearly states our concerns about this plan and the impact it would have on our residents and our regional economy."

The lawmakers said the plan would have a dramatic and devastating effect on many Pennsylvania businesses.

"Consider First Quality Enterprises, a manufacturing company located in Clinton County. It is the largest employer in Clinton County and estimates that the tolling of Interstate 80 will increase its costs by nearly $2 million annually just to ship outgoing freight," the senators said in the letter to Secretary LaHood. "Additionally, Weis Markets is a Central Pennsylvania company with its major distribution center and 57 stores located along Interstate 80. The company has indicated that tolling will double their current operating costs, likely making further expansion or investment in those areas cost prohibitive.

"Also consider the adverse effect tolling will have on all other sectors of the economy including agriculture and healthcare," the senators said. "For instance, dairy farmers are bound by prices set by the federal government so passing increased production costs onto consumers is not an option. As one Lycoming County dairy farmer opined, 'It (tolling) will kill the agriculture business in the state of Pennsylvania'."

Geisinger Health System, based in Montour County, would see a $4 million increase in operational costs through tolling without any direct benefit to the organization's mission of providing health care.

"The I-80 Tolling Impact Study, which was recently presented by Tracy Miller, Associate Professor of Economics at Grove City College, clearly shows that tolling of Interstate 80 would have a detrimental effect on the residents and businesses in Northwest Pennsylvania," said Robbins. "That is why I have joined with my Senate colleagues to make sure United States Secretary of Transportation LaHood understands the costs that tolling I-80 will have on the quality of life for the residents of the 50th Senatorial District."

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322