News From the Daily Item

Wanted: Alternate plan

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

U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski addresses the crowd at Tuesday evening's public meeting, held on the campus of Bloomsburg University to discuss the proposal to toll Interstate 80. Photo by Chris Sciacca/The Daily Item

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.

Before the program began, Mr. Kanjorski addressed the audience. He laid the current problem at the feet of the taxpayers, declaring, "We're spending more than we're willing to contribute to our government."

He said a third of our national debt is held by China, and because the Chinese hold so much of the U.S. debt, they can force America to do whatever they want us to do without firing a shot.

"If they don't buy our bonds, we have a big problem," he said. "We won't be able to pay for Social Security, roads or anything else."

Mr. Kanjorski said Pennsylvanians may have to surrender control of Interstate 80 because they don't want to raise taxes to pay for repairs to other state roads and infrastructure.

"There is no way we can do this if we are unwilling to spend," he said.

Mr. Kanjorski said he is opposed to the idea of tolls on Interstate 80, and he wants to consider alternative plans.

"I'd be a hypocrite if I don't ask how we can pay for the work without tolls," he said. "There has to be a more viable solution."

He suggested splitting the Pennsylvania Turnpike into three segments and leasing each one to an American company, using the lease payments for road and bridge repairs. A previous proposal to lease the turnpike was to a Spanish-Australian company.

His other alternative was a bit more controversial.

"If we're going to toll I-80, let's toll all the interstates in Pennsylvania," he said. "The rates would be lower, and there would be no regional or locational advantages."

Mr. Kanjorski repeated that additional funds for roads and bridges must be raised, and he said the governor, the state Legislature and he all agree on that point.

"If we don't, in 10 years, this will be like a third-world country," he said.

"You can't just be against everything," he added. "You have to decide what happens. It's not just my obligation. I share it with you."

That Mr. Kanjorski had called the meeting was obvious. Attending was Joe Brimmeier, chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and several of his deputies. Lower level officials had presided over previous meetings in Milton and Watsontown.

Danny Robinson
Bloomsburg resident Danny Robinson pleads with United States Congressman Paul Kanjorski to do anything but put tolls up to get the necessary maintenance funds for I-80. Photo by Chris Sciacca/The Daily Item

Following the screening of the promotional video, audience members peppered Mr. Kanjorski and Mr. Brimmeier with questions.

Ramona Shaffer, of Orangeville, was first to speak. She suggested raising the cost of vehicle registrations by $10 or $20.

"God, don't strike me dead," she said next. "Maybe it's time to raise the sales tax."

Mary Ann Crist, of Bloosmburg, followed up. "I dare you to raise the registration fee for one year, save the proceeds and use it for reconstruction."

Mr. Kanjorski said there aren't enough vehicles to make increasing the registration fee by only $10 or $20 feasible.

Ms. Crist then observed, "You say you will be building for two years before you start collecting tolls. We can't do that. I hate the idea that we're spending money before we have it."

Several truckers spoke about the effect on their businesses if the tolls are enacted on I-80. All agreed that they would be forced to pass the costs on to their customers.

Mr. Brimmeier noted that government hopes to pass costs on.

"Hope doesn't cut it in the private sector," retorted Steve Patton, president of Watsontown Trucking Co., of Milton. He suggested the turnpike commission look for ways to reduce costs, the way private industry does all the time.

Harvey Eckert, of Berwick, raised the hackles of Mr. Kanjorski and Mr. Brimmeier by suggesting that the presentations and meetings were all a sham, that tolling I-80 was "a done deal."

"I didn't come here to be called a liar," barked Mr. Kanjorski. "I don't have anything in this. It's a state project. I'm trying to help the people I serve."

"The state didn't get $9 billion from the highway bill because President Bush vetoed it," he continued.

Several people said Mr. Bush vetoed the bill because it was laden with pork.

"It's all pork," Mr. Kanjorski said.

"Why should I pay for a footbridge in Houston or a hiking trail in Virginia?" one man asked.

"It's not pork if it's in your district," Mr. Kanjorski persisted.

He went on to say that the Federal Highway Administration approval for the tolling project on I-80 will take a year, and during that time, he hopes alternative plans will be considered.

Improvements to I-81 to accommodate larger trucks between Hazleton and Carbondale will cost $2.75 billion, Mr. Kanjorski said.

"We're talking about basic survival of our state here," he went on.

After responding to a number of comments about how local roads would be affected, the effect of tolls on farmers and the current condition of the turnpike as compared to Interstate 80, Mr. Kanjorski returned to the question of what Congress could do.

"Congressmen (John) Peterson and (Phil) English are against tolls, but they have no alternatives ideas, either," he said. "We have to find a way to solve this, but there is no support in Congress for a positive response."

"The governor and the Legislature are working on a couple of ideas, but I don't like them," he said. "I will support an honest solution."

"We can't allow people to sell us out at 11 o'clock at night," he said.