By Jean Shanley
12/14/07 — Action to put tolls on Interstate 80, which was approved last summer by the state Legislature, has hit a roadblock.
The Federal Highway Administration has returned the state’s application for federal authorization of the proposal. “At this time, the application does not contain all of the information required for a Phase I provisional acceptance, as specified in our guidance, or a conditional provisional approval,” wrote David Lawton, acting division administrator.
In addition, he wrote that no slot in the Federal Interstate System Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program is reserved for the state’s application.
In addition, the statement said there are questions regarding the use of revenue that would be generated from tolling of I-80 for purposes other than maintenance or improvement of that road. It also questions the structure of the 50-year lease agreement between the Turnpike Commission and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
The news was welcomed by five of the county’s six state or federal legislators.
Republican state Sen. Bob Robbins, whose 50th District includes Crawford County: “We knew going in that it is a protracted process, and that approval to toll I-80 was not a slam dunk by the feds. I have been and remain an opponent of tolling Interstate 80. I am hopeful that, with the assistance of our federal legislators, that we will be successful in the end. I again caution everyone that this is a long process.”
Republican state Rep. Brad Roae, whose Sixth District includes Meadville and northern Crawford County: “It’s good news for people opposed to tolling I-80. A lot of us in the Legislature, citizens and business owners have been saying basically the same thing — it’s not really a justified project to toll the road. The whole set-up doesn’t make sense. It’s not proper usage of regulations that allow you to toll the road.”
Republican state Rep. Michele Brooks, whose 17th District includes central and southern Crawford County: “Wednesday’s decision by the Federal Highway Administra-tion is good news to the thousands of families and hundreds of small and large businesses that use I-80 on a daily basis. Since this began, I have been in strong opposition to Act 44 (the legislation which enacted the toll), understanding that tolling this vital highway would be a hardship on our local residents and businesses, and I am gratified to know that the federal government shares our concerns. Although this decision does not reject the tolling proposal, this decision is a tremendous step forward in our fight to convince the federal government that tolling I-80 is not good public policy for rural Pennsylvania.”
Republican state Rep. John Evans, whose Fifth District includes portions of western Crawford County, was not available. He was the only state legislator from this region who voted for the legislation last summer.
Republican U.S. Rep. John Peterson, whose Fifth District includes portions of eastern Crawford County: “Six other states have applied for the last slot available for an exception to toll a road.” He said whatever state gets the completed application done first will get it. “There is no way the department and the turnpike (commission) can meet the qualifications that are required to obtain this slot. The facts won’t qualify it. The law states that all the funds have to be used on I-80. They didn’t expect the department to pay much attention on how they would spend the money. It’s time to stop borrowing and move on with the repeal of Act 44 on the state level and find a more viable way to fund the highways.”
Republican U.S. Rep. Phil English, whose Third District includes most of Crawford County: “At this rate, it is clear from the analysis, that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Com-mission has no commitment that tolling will happen. I salute the DOT for conducting a thorough and professional review of this proposal and insisting on a project that meets the statutory requirements.”
