News

July 30, 2008

Kanjorski to feds: No I-80 tolls

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski has informed U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Federal Highway Administration acting administrator James Ray that he opposes the conversion of Interstate 80 into a toll road.

Kanjorski urged them to reject the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s revised application on this matter.

In his letter, Kanjorski listed several reasons for his stance:

In 2005, PennDOT conducted a study that recommended against tolling on I-80 because upgrades on the highway recently took place.

The FHWA only approves tolls on interstate highways for construction activities on those roads.

Tolling would burden existing and potential businesses, especially trucking companies and manufacturers, who use I-80 to transport their products.

Such action would cause a financial burden to residents in Northeastern Pennsylvania who use I-80 for commuting and traveling.

Tolling would force drivers to increasingly travel on local roads to avoid the cost of the tolls, which would cause more damage to these local roads and increase safety concerns.

Kanjorski’s opponent, Hazleton Republican Mayor Lou Barletta, also said he opposes converting the interstate into a toll road.

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