Peterson Stands Firm on I-80
DuBois, PA – U.S. Representative John E. Peterson, R-Pleasantville, the leading force in Pennsylvania to keep Interstate 80 toll-free, recently met with Federal Highway Administrator Jim Ray to reassert his strong opposition to the tolling of I-80. Peterson stressed the devastating economic impact tolling I-80 will have on the Commonwealth and the funding scheme that further jeopardizes the Pennsylvania Motor License Fund, which is used to maintain and repair roads and bridges throughout the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania, like many other states, is facing a transportation funding shortage, but unlike other states, Pennsylvania has grossly mismanaged funds dedicated to road and bridge repair.
While the Governor and the legislative leaders in Harrisburg continue to pout and point fingers for the transportation funding shortfall, one only has to scrutinize the State Budget to see why the Commonwealth comes up short – highway dollars are being used for other programs.
“If the leaders in Harrisburg truly believe there is a transportation infrastructure funding crisis – which I do – then they should have never left town for their two month vacation without finding a viable solution,” said Peterson, a senior Member of the House of Representatives.
Let it also be noted that Pennsylvania receives more funding from the Federal Government for road and bridge repair that 40 other states – due in large part to hard work of the Congressional delegation back in 2005. For every $1.00 of state funds committed to the highway trust fund, the federal government returns $1.15 in federal highway dollars.
“For the Governor and legislative leaders in Harrisburg to place blame at the feet of the federal government for a lack of highway funding, is nothing short of grandstanding, and a cover up of their mismanagement of federal highway dollars,” said Peterson. “Let me remind the Governor of his testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on May 24, 2007 included the following statement; “The Federal Government has been very good to Pennsylvania in highway funding… and you continue to help us in every way you can.”
While the United States is undoubtedly in need of expanded transportation infrastructure funding, Pennsylvania is short on highway and bridge dollars for two reasons; the diversion of over $411 million dollars of road and bridge money to mass transit in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; and over $500 million annually from the Pennsylvania Motor License Fund for the State Police budget.
Moreover, the thought that leaders in Harrisburg believe tolling I-80 will solve this crisis, is even more misguided. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and their multi-million dollar lobbying and public relations firms have failed to do any economic impact or diversion studies. How can they predict future revenues and investment without knowing how much traffic will travel on the road? Better yet, how many small businesses that use commercial trucks to transport goods and raw material will close their doors because of increased costs?
One would think that these questions have been asked, and answered – but they have not.
“While multi-million dollar PR firms travel the state pitching this ill-conceived plan, I can think of only one reason why the Harrisburg leaders are enthusiastically behind this measure, and that’s to fatten the pockets of their friends in Harrisburg and increase the size of the patronage ridden turnpike commission,” said Peterson.
The Federal Department of Transportation recently announced that Americans have traveled 30 billion fewer miles in the past six months compared with the same period a year ago. This trend will undoubtedly continue as the world demand for oil continues to increase – and the price at the pump hovers at $4.00 per/gallon. This staggering statistic is one more question the PTC has failed to account for in their revenue projections – yet they continue to borrow money, backed by the taxpayers, to fund mass transit.
“The vast majority of Pennsylvanians oppose the tolling of I-80, and for good reason. They believe the economic effects are far greater and more costly to any potential benefit. Over the next five months, I will fight with every once of energy I have to ensure I-80 remains the freeway that it was meant to be,” concluded Peterson.
Pennsylvania, like many other states, is facing a transportation funding shortage, but unlike other states, Pennsylvania has grossly mismanaged funds dedicated to road and bridge repair.
While the Governor and the legislative leaders in Harrisburg continue to pout and point fingers for the transportation funding shortfall, one only has to scrutinize the State Budget to see why the Commonwealth comes up short – highway dollars are being used for other programs.
“If the leaders in Harrisburg truly believe there is a transportation infrastructure funding crisis – which I do – then they should have never left town for their two month vacation without finding a viable solution,” said Peterson, a senior Member of the House of Representatives.
Let it also be noted that Pennsylvania receives more funding from the Federal Government for road and bridge repair that 40 other states – due in large part to hard work of the Congressional delegation back in 2005. For every $1.00 of state funds committed to the highway trust fund, the federal government returns $1.15 in federal highway dollars.
“For the Governor and legislative leaders in Harrisburg to place blame at the feet of the federal government for a lack of highway funding, is nothing short of grandstanding, and a cover up of their mismanagement of federal highway dollars,” said Peterson. “Let me remind the Governor of his testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on May 24, 2007 included the following statement; “The Federal Government has been very good to Pennsylvania in highway funding… and you continue to help us in every way you can.”
While the United States is undoubtedly in need of expanded transportation infrastructure funding, Pennsylvania is short on highway and bridge dollars for two reasons; the diversion of over $411 million dollars of road and bridge money to mass transit in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; and over $500 million annually from the Pennsylvania Motor License Fund for the State Police budget.
Moreover, the thought that leaders in Harrisburg believe tolling I-80 will solve this crisis, is even more misguided. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and their multi-million dollar lobbying and public relations firms have failed to do any economic impact or diversion studies. How can they predict future revenues and investment without knowing how much traffic will travel on the road? Better yet, how many small businesses that use commercial trucks to transport goods and raw material will close their doors because of increased costs?
One would think that these questions have been asked, and answered – but they have not.
“While multi-million dollar PR firms travel the state pitching this ill-conceived plan, I can think of only one reason why the Harrisburg leaders are enthusiastically behind this measure, and that’s to fatten the pockets of their friends in Harrisburg and increase the size of the patronage ridden turnpike commission,” said Peterson.
The Federal Department of Transportation recently announced that Americans have traveled 30 billion fewer miles in the past six months compared with the same period a year ago. This trend will undoubtedly continue as the world demand for oil continues to increase – and the price at the pump hovers at $4.00 per/gallon. This staggering statistic is one more question the PTC has failed to account for in their revenue projections – yet they continue to borrow money, backed by the taxpayers, to fund mass transit.
“The vast majority of Pennsylvanians oppose the tolling of I-80, and for good reason. They believe the economic effects are far greater and more costly to any potential benefit. Over the next five months, I will fight with every once of energy I have to ensure I-80 remains the freeway that it was meant to be,” concluded Peterson.
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