Published: October 28, 2009 03:07 pm      

Trolling for tolling

Risks still outweigh benefits in I-80 plan

THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT

Officials in Harrisburg are attempting to breathe new life into the notion of tolling Interstate 80.

We see this as a project not worth resuscitating.

The federal government handed the proposal a setback a year ago when it did not approve an application to charge motorists to use the cross-state highway.

The Federal Highway Administration was skeptical of the data provided to them by PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission.

Naturally, tolling supporters in Pennsylvania are hoping a change in leadership in Washington and the passing of another year might aid their cause. In addition, U.S. Rep. John Peterson, a strong opponent of tolling, has retired.

We urge the feds to respond this time as they did before: Just say no to tolling I-80.

Supporters of the proposal said the state needs the added revenue to improve highways and bridges across Pennsylvania. However, much of the money would be spent far away from I-80 – especially in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions.

Indeed, Allegheny County state Rep. Joe Markosek is among those pushing hardest for tolls.

They have until June 30, 2010, to make their case and get federal approval.

Opponents say tolling the interstate would push traffic onto local roads, creating safety concerns, and would also hurt businesses along the I-80 corridor.

Even the Turnpike Commission’s olive branch to residents of the counties along I-80 – in the form of a proposal to allow them to travel one interchange without paying a toll – has not generated support across the state’s northern tier.

Here’s another concern:

How would companies that ship their products across I-80 react to tolling?

Two things would happen:

n They would divert their trucks onto alternative roads, causing wear and tear and raising concerns for safety in rural communities.

n They would pass the expense on to their customers in the form of higher prices for the products that are shipped across that road.

The highway does not pass through our region, so we have less at stake here than residents of Clearfield, Centre, Clinton and other counties north of us.

But we are yet to see a sound argument for taking the risk that would come with adding tolls to the heavily traveled interstate.