February 8, 2008 - Press Release
Chamber group organizes efforts to oppose I-80 tolling
(Chambers & Partners Against I-80 Tolling )

State College, February 8: Representatives of chambers of commerce from across the Commonwealth have formalized their efforts to oppose the tolling of Interstate 80.

"What originally began as an informal collective has grown into a consortium that also includes economic development organizations and other entities as well," said Maria Culp, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce and the Milton Area Industrial Development Association. "Although we all agreed the plan to allow the Turnpike Commission to take over and toll Interstate 80 is bad for Pennsylvania, we also knew we needed more than our opposition to make a difference. We needed to refine our mission and identify the steps we intend to take to achieve our goal of keeping Interstate 80 a toll-free roadway."

The group met in State College earlier this week and renamed itself Chambers & Partners Against I-80 Tolling. Culp said the name reflects its members' desire to be inclusive of other entities, including economic development groups and trade associations, who also see the proposed tolling as a significant threat to the economic wellbeing of the Commonwealth.

"Our mission is to support a fair and equitable alternative to keep Interstate 80 toll-free and to preserve our economic prosperity and opportunity across Pennsylvania" explained Culp. "We realize Pennsylvania needs more money to maintain and protect its transportation infrastructure, but tolling Interstate 80 is not the right solution."

In July 2007, Governor Ed Rendell approved legislation creating Act 44 and authorizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to collect tolls on the portion of Interstate 80 that travels through Pennsylvania. With only one month between the time the legislation was introduced and then signed into law, there were no public hearings nor any other opportunity for those who would be most affected by the tolls to comment. In the months since Act 44 was created, business leaders, government officials and private citizens have spoken out about the effect tolling Interstate 80 will have on Pennsylvania's economy.

Because it is part of the Federal Highway System, built with federal funds to facilitate interstate commerce and national defense, federal approval is needed before Interstate 80 can become a toll road. The United States Department of Transportation has yet to grant that approval, and in fact has raised several questions about the information contained in the Turnpike Commission's proposal.

Culp said the group is hoping to generate awareness across Pennsylvania that this issue is one that will affect the entire Commonwealth, not just the Interstate 80 corridor.

"This is not a case of our not wanting tolls in our backyard," said Culp. "This really will damage the economy of the entire Commonwealth. Industries that have sprung up along the I-80 corridor have done so because of the value of having access to a free roadway. Take that away, and these businesses will be forced to reexamine whether they can continue to operate in their present location. Pennsylvania simply cannot afford to lose those jobs."

In addition to the economic impact, said Culp, is the safety hazard that will come with traffic diverting off the toll road and onto local roadways not designed to carry as high a volume of traffic.

"This isn't speculation, this is fact," said Culp. "When Ohio increased tolls on its turnpike and kept the speed limit at 55mph, trucks diverted onto the secondary roadways. The result was the rural stretches of roadway with the highest fatalities just happened to be parallel to the Ohio Turnpike, and just happened to be the roadways the trucks were using to avoid the higher tolls."

Culp added the increase in fatal crashes was so great, Ohio lowered the tolls and increased the speed limit in order to lure the trucks back onto its turnpike.

"None of this information was considered when Act 44 was drafted, debated or approved," said Culp. "The public was completely left out when this legislation was drafted, just like it was with the pay raise of 2005. The people rose up, spoke out and made the legislature repeal the pay raise. We need to get the word out so that voters can tell their legislators that tolling Interstate 80 is just as bad an idea - worse, in fact."

The group is in the process of collecting proposals from media professionals who can help package and spread its message.

"There has been so much misinformation, and so much missing information surrounding this issue," said Culp. "This is too important to the future of Pennsylvania to let this process continue, and our group is going to do everything it can to bring to this issue the attention and scrutiny it deserves."

Members of the consortium include the Brookville Area Chamber of Commerce; Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce; the Clarion Chamber of Business & Industry; the Columbia/Montour Chamber of Commerce; the Franklin Chamber of Commerce; Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce; and The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, contact:

Maria Culp
700 Hepburn Street
Suite 4
Milton, PA 17847
Phone: (570) 742-7341
Fax: (570) 742-2008