News From the Daily Item

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

Dennis Curtin, Weis Markets spokesman
Dennis Curtin, Weis Markets spokesman, tells legislators and business leaders that tolls on Interstate 80 would add more than $1 million to the grocery chain-s costs. Photo by Tara Roadarmel/The Daily Item.

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.

Of those 126 stores, 57 in northeastern Pennsylvania, the Poconos, the Lehigh Valley and State College are supplied directly by I-80, resulting in about 20,000 trips annually on the interstate, Mr. Curtin said.

Under current tolling costs and tolling increases already proposed by the state, Mr. Curtin said Weis Markets would incur more than $1 million in increased costs.

"It is impossible for my company to absorb these costs," he said. "These costs will very likely be passed on to our customers. ... The bottom line is "Â? it affects our business and it affects our customers."

Steve Patton, president of Watsontown Trucking Co. in Milton, expressed similar sentiments.

Mr. Patton and Mr. Curtin both hit on the fact that their companies already pay 38 cents a gallon of tax on diesel fuel -- money that is supposed to go toward road improvement projects in the state.

Like Mr. Curtin, Mr. Patton said the tolling plan amounts to a tax on top of a tax, and that tolls would cost his company an extra $750,000 per year.

"I submit $180,000 currently per year to travel just on Route 80," Mr. Patton said. "I feel I'm already paying my fair share on Route 80."

Friday's meeting was the latest held this week in the Central Susquehanna Valley concerning the tolling plan for Interstate 80.

Local legislators and business leaders hope the state will abandon the tolling plan and instead lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as was Gov. Edward G. Rendell's original plan to fund the state's transportation projects.

Those in attendance at Friday's luncheon were asked to sign petitions opposing the plan and to keep in mind that tolling the interstate has implications beyond Central Pennsylvania.

"There will be a trickle-down effect to a lot of companies in the United States and I think we should do everything we can to stop this legislation from being passed," Mr. Patton said.

Friday's luncheon was jointly held by the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce.

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