News & Updates

February 8, 2008 Press Release: Chamber group organizes efforts to oppose 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." Read More ...

Rep. Fairchild: 'We can't let our guard down'

By Wayne Laepple, The Daily Item
Friday, December 14, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

While some may consider the Interstate 80 tolling fight over, others see recent action by the Federal Highway Administration as only the first round in a protracted battle. Earlier this week, the federal agency returned an application to place tolls on I-80 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission with a request for much more detailed information. Rep. Russell Fairchild, R-85 of Lewisburg, said the Federal Highway Administration did the right thing. Read More ...

US Dept. of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Responds to Oct 13 Joint Application to Toll I-80

December 12, 2007: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (US DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHA) responds to Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) October 13 joint application to toll I-80 under the Interstate System Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program (ISRRPP).

Act 44 Vote Records

12/12/2007: We recently added the Act 44 Voting Records, where you can see how your Representative and Senators voted and contact them to express your concerns.

You can also Download the Act 44 Vote Records (Excel spreadsheet).

SEDA-COG panel rips consultant on interstate toll plan

By Rick Dandes, The Daily Item
Thursday, December 06, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

LEWISBURG—A consultant for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission got an earful Wednesday while trying to tout the advantages of placing tolls on Interstate 80. Not a single SEDA-Council of Governments director -- who are commissioners from 11 counties in the region -- voiced support for the proposal. Read More ...

PA State Senate Letter to Mary E. Peters (PDF)

December 4, 2007

Ms. Peters is Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation. The Turnpike Commission cannot add tolls to Interstate 80 without approval from the United States Department of Transportation. Read the Senate Letter (PDF File requires Acrobat Reader).

Wanted: Alternate plan

By Wayne Laepple, The Daily Item
Wednesday, November 28, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

BLOOMSBURG—An extra meeting to discuss tolls on Interstate 80, called by U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-11 of Wilkes-Barre, turned into a free-wheeling discussion of state and federal policies Tuesday evening. At least 100 people gathered in the community room at Monty's on the Bloomsburg University campus to view a video presentation by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, detailing its plan to use tolls collected on I-80 to rebuild roads and bridges throughout the state. Read More ...

Fight continues to block I-80 tolls

By Jeff Shaffer, Standard-Journal Staff writer
Friday, November 28, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

MILTON — Valley residents, businesses, organizations and politicians are still putting the pedal to the metal in an effort to put up a road block on the state’s plan to toll Interstate 80. “Every week, we get more people who understand how important I-80 is to survival (of the area),” said Maria Culp, president and CEO of the Central Pa. Chamber of Commerce, on Tuesday. Read More ...

A toll on business ... Companies say I-80 plan to cost them millions

By Amanda Keister, The Daily Item
 Saturday, November 17, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

LEWISBURG — If Pennsylvania goes ahead with plans to toll Interstate 80, at least two Valley businesses are looking at increases in operating costs approaching $1 million. Weis Markets operates 126 stores in Pennsylvania, spokesman Dennis Curtin said Friday at a joint legislative forum to discuss proposed Interstate 80 tolls. All of Weis' stores are supplied through the company's Milton distribution plant, 10 miles from I-80. Read More ...

Toll foes: Turn to the turnpike or toll I-95

By Jeff Shaffer, Standard-Journal Staff writer
Friday, November 16, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

After this week, it’s becoming increasingly obvious how the Valley and others along Interstate 80 feel about Act 44. Seemingly, the chief concern is that tolling on I-80 would be detrimental to the economic well-being of central Pennsylvania. But if the 311 miles of I-80 are not tolled through a lease to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for much needed funds to repair aging roads and bridges, then what’s the answer? Read More ...

Act 44 Update and Call for Action

November 16, 2007
By Maria A. Culp, President & CEO, Central PA Chamber of Commerce

Watsontown, PA—At a private luncheon, two Turnpike Commission representatives, William Capone, Director of Communications and Public Relations, and Brian Ranck, Project Manager and Engineer for the tolling project, provided a brief overview of the process they are moving through. Everyone was given the opportunity to ask questions about Act 44 and the plan to toll I-80. Unfortunately, many of our questions remain unanswered. Read More ...

Advocates of I-80 toll plan find plenty of opposition

By Wayne Laepple, The Daily Item
Tuesday, November 15, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

WATSONTOWN -- Representatives of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission tried Wednesday to make the case for placing tolls on Interstate 80, but their arguments didn't have much traction with the region's business leaders. Read More ...

Residents pan state’s tolling plan

By Jeff Shaffer, Standard-Journal Staff writer
Tuesday, November 13, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

MILTON — Central Pennsylvanians who turned out for Monday night’s presentation on tolling Interstate 80 let it be known the proposal is far from their favorite. Residents from Bellefonte to White Haven were given the chance to address the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) and its representatives Monday night at Milton Area High School. Most expressed how detrimental tolling on Interstate 80 would be to the Valley, not just on the economy, but also on secondary roads. Read More ...

Many voices, 1 message

By Wayne Laepple, The Daily Item
Tuesday, November 13, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

MILTON — Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials got an earful Monday night during an information session at Milton Area High School. Residents, civic leaders and truckers all expressed their disapproval of Act 44, the legislation that directed the commission to look into placing tolls on Interstate 80 to raise funds for highway and bridge repairs statewide. Read More ...

Don’t miss your chance to weigh in on I-80 toll proposal

By Jeff Shaffer, Standard-Journal Staff writer
Saturday, November 10, 2007, Reprinted with Permission

MILTON — Prepare for a highway of information on potential Interstate 80 tolling next week. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, charged to carry out Act 44, which was passed by state lawmakers this summer, will visit Milton to enlighten the public on plans to turn I-80 into a toll road to generate $116 billion over the next 50 years for the state’s transportation infrastructure. The plan still requires approval from the federal government. Read More ...

Act 44 Press Release from PennDOT and the PA Turnpike Commission

October 16, 2007

HARRISBURG — PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission have entered into a 50-year lease agreement for Interstate-80, part of the requirements of Act 44 passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Edward G. Rendell in July. Under Act 44, the commission will transfer $83.3 billion to PennDOT for transportation projects throughout the state. Read More ...

Turnpike officials pledge $1 billion for I-80 improvements

Published August 20, 2007
The Daily Item, Reprinted with Permission

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State officials plan to spend more than $1 billion on improvements to Interstate 80 over the next few years under a plan to convert the 311-mile highway to a toll road. The improvements would focus on repairing bridges, adding climbing lanes for trucks, upgrading pavement and extending access ramps to the interstate, officials said. Read More ...

Rural PA lawmakers announce bill to stop tolls on Interstate 80

KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press
Published July 30, 2007 in The Daily Item, Reprinted with Permission

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two Pennsylvania congressmen who disagree with Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal to put tolls on Interstate 80 announced a new tactic to stop the plan on Monday. Reps. Phil English and John Peterson said they plan to introduce legislation that would eliminate the state's economic incentive to place tolls on the interstate by establishing a federal excise tax equal to the amount of the toll that would go to a federal program. Read More ...