Plan To Toll I-80 Rejected, Another Pothole Needing Filled

House GOP Leader gratified U.S. Dept. of Transportation listened

HARRISBURG – House Republican Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson County) today expressed some relief at the decision by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to deny the third application to toll Interstate 80 (I-80). The application was submitted by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) as authorized by Act 44 of 2007. Smith voted against the proposal.

“Tolling I-80 was just not in the interests of Pennsylvania,” Smith said. “Many legislators had concerns and voiced them on the floor before the vote. We also expressed those concerns, with evidence in correspondence to Secretary LaHood... he listened and it worked.”

At a Capitol news conference today, the governor announced the decision of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who told him the latest application to toll I-80 was rejected. Smith was among a number of House members and other Pennsylvania residents and employers to identify problems with the administration’s application.

The governor called for a special session on transportation funding to address the revenue shortfall created by the tolling rejection.

“If a special session is called, House Republicans will participate; it provides an opportunity to focus on the issue and that is definitely needed now. Our caucus has been willing to deal with varied transportation issues since 2004 when the public transit funding ‘crisis’ was created,” Smith said. “House Republicans have long advocated long-term funding solutions which include public-private partnerships; cost-cutting measures; ensuring adequate local funding; requiring transit riders to pay their fair share; and considering competitive contracting to help contain costs into the future.”

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