HARRISBURG – State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the Pennsylvania House and Senate plan to travel to Washington, D.C., on Thursday to voice their concerns to federal regulators, who are currently considering a Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission application to place tolls on Interstate 80.
The group of state lawmakers includes: Sen. Bob Robbins (R-50); Sen. John Gordner (R-27); Rep. Matt Gabler (R-75); Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-64); Rep. Michele Brooks (R-17); Rep. Brad Roae (R-6); Rep. David Millard (R-109); Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-63); Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-65); Rep. Mario Scavello (R-176); Rep. Merle Phillips (R-108); Rep. Mike Hanna (D-76); Rep. Mark Longietti (D-7); Rep. Richard Stevenson (R-8), and Rep. Russ Fairchild (R-85).
Legislative staffers representing Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) and House Republican Leader Sam Smith (R-66) will accompany the lawmakers.
The Turnpike Commission’s application to toll I-80 is under consideration by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA). The FHWA has the authority to approve the application, granting the Turnpike Commission the ability to proceed forward with its plans to turn I-80 into a toll road, or deny the application and protect the interstate’s current toll-free status.
The group of lawmakers will make the trip on Thursday and then return to the Pennsylvania House to participate in a voting session.
In anticipation of their trip, the group of lawmakers issued the following joint statement:
“We are traveling to our nation’s capital because the people we are elected to represent deserve to have their voices heard on this important issue.
“We look forward to the opportunity to meet with federal authorities and share our concerns about the plan to toll I-80. This is a policy decision that will have far-reaching and long-lasting effects on the future of our commonwealth.
“More immediately, this decision will affect the financial security of Pennsylvania families and employers. At a time when our commonwealth and our country are struggling to make our way out of an international economic recession, the implementation of tolls on I-80 will threaten our economic recovery. Tolling I-80 would tie an economic anchor around the legs of Pennsylvanians, many of whom are currently struggling to keep their heads above water.
“With these grave consequences in mind, we will ask the Federal Highway Administration to reject the Turnpike Commission’s application to enact tolls on I-80. Pennsylvania families, employers and workers simply cannot afford to carry this additional burden.”
