News From the Daily Item

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.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation are seeking federal approval to place tolls on Interstate 80 as authorized by Act 44 of July 2007.

Barry Schoch, of McCormick Taylor Inc., a Philadelphia engineering and planning firm, said tolls would generate much-needed revenue for PennDOT, which would then dole out money to municipalities for infrastructure improvements.

It wasn't a convincing argument for any of the directors representing Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder and Union counties.

One by one, they charged that placing tolls would have a serious, negative economic effect on the region, and drive away business.

C. Chris Exarchos, of Centre County, said there would be "disproportionate burdens put on local users of the road. Frankly, Mr. Schoch, I don't think the highway commission has thought through how this would affect this area."

Economic impact studies were still needed, Mr. Schoch said.

Rebecca Burke, a Lycoming County commissioner, wondered why a north-south road such as Interstate 95 wasn't considered for tolling.

"There's more traffic north-south and certainly there would be more revenue raised," she said.

Mr. Schoch had no answer for that.

"I'll tell you why the state decided on I-80," Ms. Burke said, answering her own question. "It's because this is all political. The legislators who represent the people along I-95 have the votes and we don't."

Mr. Schoch ended his presentation by saying that he and his team would be back in the spring, conducting more public meetings.

"This time, we'll be armed with plans noting where each of the 10 toll stations would be located," he said. "And we'll also have done some economic impact studies by then. I think it's a good thing to hear all these questions and concerns that people have."

Union County Commissioner Preston Boop said: "What you're talking about are hiring and training staff, and a major construction job, building tolls. This all makes no sense. It would be smarter to just increase the fuel tax. At least that would be a fair tax, and the monies raised could go directly to rebuild roads. You wouldn't have all these extra expenses. This is a perfect example of how government operates in a most inefficient way."

Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Boop was elected second vice president of the board for 2008. He will join the new President-elect, Rebecca Burke, and the new first vice president, Columbia County Commissioner William Soberick.

E-mail comments about this article to rdandes@dailyitem.com.