LAMAR – U.S. Representative Glenn `GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, told a meeting of the Coalition Against Tolling I-80 he will “continue to work with you, the State Representatives and Senators and my colleagues in Congress to make sure this tolling scheme does not become a reality.”
The meeting took place at the Hampton Inn in Lamar. Thompson thanked the Coalition for its work so far and said, “I can assure you today is the beginning of new grassroots efforts from across the state to urge Harrisburg to repeal Act 44 and go back to the drawing board on this flawed plan.”
Pennsylvania Act 44 planned to use the toll revenues from the turnpike, along with huge amounts of borrowed money, to pay for highway and mass transit projects. The anticipated revenues from tolls on I-80 would then pay off that debt. “Unfortunately,” said Thompson, “that’s not the way the federal law works.”
The federal pilot program allows states to rehabilitate and reconstruct an interstate by using the funds from tolls to finance the projects. The revenues from tolls must be used on that highway, Thompson explained. “Borrowing against anticipated toll revenues is reckless, especially when the plan has already been rejected by the Federal Highway Administration—twice.”
Thompson told the group that the proposal to toll I-80 has very little to do with innovation or creating sustainable transportation, but more to do with the continuation of an antiquated system of government, where the taxpayer ultimately loses.
The Congressman said he was concerned that between 2004 and 2007, $412 million in Federal funding has been diverted to mass transit and other accounts rather than to the roads and bridges that were in need of maintenance.
“You’ll hear from those who want to toll I-80 that the country bumpkins don’t pay their fair share. Or those trucks don’t pay their fair share along the road.
“You’ll hear that we’re getting a free ride because others in the state must pay Turnpike fees.”
The roads were built under different plans. The Turnpike was built as a toll road, where gas taxes paid for the Interstate.
Thompson asked, “Could it be that the people of Pennsylvania have been taken for a ride by the Turnpike Commission.”
He concluded: “Let’s send a clear message to the Turnpike Commission and those in Harrisburg who would like to see I-80 tolled that there is no bailout.”