In The News

Phones ring on talk of I-80 announcement

U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-PA, says there’s no validity to talk of March 23 being the date the federal government will announce a decision on I-80 tolls in Pennsylvania.

But that’s what a group called Pennsylvanians for Transportation Solutions – or PenTrans – is reporting this week.

PenTrans claimed in a recent newsletter that a reliable source says “no I-80 tolling decision until March 23.” The newsletter contained no other details, but the group’s executive director says his information is reliable.

Rep. Thompson, an outspoken opponent of the I-80 toll proposal, said any talk of a specific date is still just a rumor at this point.

“I contacted the department about 20 minutes ago, and Mr. Gresham (Dana Gresham, DOT assistant secretary for governmental affairs) assured me that they have yet to make their decision. They have not any kind of a time frame for an announcement, and wherever March 23rd came from, there’s certainly no validity to that,” Thompson told Land Line late on Thursday, Feb. 25.

OOIDA stands with Thompson in opposition to I-80 tolls, saying that tolls amount to a double tax for users who already pay fuel taxes and other user fees to maintain federal highways.

“We’re going to continue to stay in the fight here,” Thompson insists. “What we’re trying to do is avoid double taxation. It’s not good for the I-80 corridor and not good for the economy. It’s certainly not good for Pennsylvania’s economy.”

A few weeks ago, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez told a congressional delegation from Pennsylvania led by Thompson that a decision would be coming “soon.”

Thompson said the debate now seems to revolve around the definition of “soon.”

“He’s right on target. That’s a great point that he makes,” said OOIDA Director of Legislative Affairs Mike Joyce.

“There’s always interpretation of a single word, that word being the word ‘soon.’ This limbo that we’re in creates a lot of uncertainty for businesses that want to operate and locate in Pennsylvania. They want that assurance, and we’re just not getting that right now.”

PenTrans Executive Director Peter Javsicas says his source is confidential but that the information is reliable.

“If we get any further information on it, we’ll share it,” Javsicas told Land Line on Friday.

To date, no existing interstate highway has been converted into a toll road despite attempts by several states including the Keystone State.

The FHWA has already struck down Pennsylvania’s application twice, but there’s no limit to how many times a state or agency can try.

“We’re hoping that the DOT and Federal Highways will make a decision that is consistent with their other decisions on this matter,” OOIDA’s Joyce said. “It’s time for Pennsylvania to return to the drawing board and to stop diverting resources to projects outside of their intended purpose.”

Current law requires the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to send hundreds of millions of dollars to the state DOT each year to pay for highway programs that include mass transit. The pro-tolling lobby continues to insist that a budget funding gap will grow without I-80 being tolled.

Nearly every state in the union is claiming some kind of budget shortfall for transportation.

OOIDA urges lawmakers to spend highway money on highways without diversion.

[email protected]

www.LandLineMag.com