News From the Standard-Journal

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.

About two weeks ago, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) — given a green light by the state to take over I-80 and toll it in order to raise billions of dollars for infrastructure repair and mass transportation — visited Milton to explain its plan and collect information to further its study on the impact of those who live and work along the 311 miles of I-80.

The public response, including the voices sounded at the Milton meeting, has not been positive. A leading reason is the perceived disruption to economic development in the area.

The Central Pa. Chamber of Commerce has been collecting signatures petitioning against the proposed tolling. Culp said the petition already has more than a thousand names.

She added Watsontown Trucking president Steve Patton, who has been quite vocal in his opposition to tolls, recently spent a weekend asking for signatures at truck stops locally and up the Northeast Extension of the Turnpike. One truck stop alone provided 432 signatures to the chamber, Culp said.

In addition, area individuals and organizations, including Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg, have approached the chamber for petition forms to distribute.

She has asked to have the signatures back by today, along with official statements from businesses, to prepare them for the Perspectives on I-80 Symposium to be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Zion Baptist Church, Clarion.

At the symposium, there will be testimony, along with panel discussions by state and federal legislators and those involved in economic development. A community perspective will also be shared by local government officials and other agencies, like tourism.

“There are still people out there who think this is a done deal, but it’s not,” said Culp of the Act 44 plan to toll the interstate.

She said that is why U.S. Congressman Paul Kanjorski (PA-11) requested that the PTC hold a public meeting Tuesday night at Bloomsburg University to foster an open discussion about the possibility of tolling I-80.

That meeting, according to published reports, produced the same negative responses as others. Several alternatives to tolling were raised, including hiking sales tax and the cost of vehicle registration to tolling all of the interstates. Kanjorski came out opposing the I-80 plan and also in search of a more viable solution.

There is a fear, though, that time may be running out.

There are contradictory reports on when the Federal Highway Commission may approve the plan.

Culp heard it may potentially occur in the next six to eight weeks, which is why the chambers will be preparing their petitions, documents and other measures of opposition for state and federal lawmakers soon.

Even state Sen. John Gordner has been receiving mixed signals, according to Josh Funk, a legislative assistant to Gordner.

In Washington, D.C., they have also heard a decision could be made in the next two months. However, the PTC at its meetings has said the feds wouldn’t be making a decision until sometime next summer, following studies, additional public meetings and another round of applications by the PTC.

Because of the rumor of an earlier approval, Funk said Gordner has invited the 19 state senators who opposed the tolling to come together to sign a letter of disapproval of the plan and send it to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

Jeff Shaffer: 570-742-9671
jeff@standard-journal.com