Reality Check:
Pennsylvanians Cut Back on Driving
State College, PA – In yet another display of their grossly misguided and ludicrous attempt to exaggerate the numbers and sell the tolling of I-80 as a viable solution to the transportation funding crisis in the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission continues to predict a 2.5 percent increase in traffic on I-80 – despite the fact that every study under the sun points in the opposite direction.
“In their most recent application to the Federal Highway Administration, the Turnpike Commission predicts a 2.5 percent increase in traffic annually if tolls are permitted on I-80 – yet, as the Pittsburgh Post Gazette points out today, Pennsylvanians are driving less – 241 million miles less in the month of June alone. Adjustments to the tolling model would only be remedied by increasing tolls or drastically altering their plans for road and bridge projects. Given the Turnpike Commission’s track record, and if I were a betting man, I’d put my money on higher tolls,” said U.S. Rep. John E. Peterson, R-Pleasantville, the leading force behind keeping I-80 toll free.
“How can the PTC predict future traffic flow when they have not even done an economic impact or diversion study? More importantly, when the national and local trends point to less driving, do they think this excludes Interstate 80? With the cost of gasoline hovering around $4.00 per gallon, this trend will undoubtedly continue.”
Peterson is referring to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which states the motoring public has cut back on vehicle miles traveled by 30 billion miles in the first half of 2008 when compared to the first half of 2007. The trend includes Pennsylvania as the Post Gazette story noted today.
“This illustrates one of the many flaws contained in the Turnpike Commission’s I-80 tolling application. The stakes are too high and the economy is too fragile for this poorly conceived plan to go through. In my remaining months in office, I will continue to fight to keep I-80 a freeway,” concluded Peterson.
“In their most recent application to the Federal Highway Administration, the Turnpike Commission predicts a 2.5 percent increase in traffic annually if tolls are permitted on I-80 – yet, as the Pittsburgh Post Gazette points out today, Pennsylvanians are driving less – 241 million miles less in the month of June alone. Adjustments to the tolling model would only be remedied by increasing tolls or drastically altering their plans for road and bridge projects. Given the Turnpike Commission’s track record, and if I were a betting man, I’d put my money on higher tolls,” said U.S. Rep. John E. Peterson, R-Pleasantville, the leading force behind keeping I-80 toll free.
“How can the PTC predict future traffic flow when they have not even done an economic impact or diversion study? More importantly, when the national and local trends point to less driving, do they think this excludes Interstate 80? With the cost of gasoline hovering around $4.00 per gallon, this trend will undoubtedly continue.”
Peterson is referring to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which states the motoring public has cut back on vehicle miles traveled by 30 billion miles in the first half of 2008 when compared to the first half of 2007. The trend includes Pennsylvania as the Post Gazette story noted today.
“This illustrates one of the many flaws contained in the Turnpike Commission’s I-80 tolling application. The stakes are too high and the economy is too fragile for this poorly conceived plan to go through. In my remaining months in office, I will continue to fight to keep I-80 a freeway,” concluded Peterson.
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