House GOP: Don’t Approve I-80 Tolling

Don’t Approve I-80 Tolling Application, House Republican Leader Smith
Says To US Transportation Department

Leader questions Turnpike’s ‘valuation’ study

HARRISBURG – House Republican Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson County)
wrote to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to express opposition to
and new concerns about the state’s re-application to convert Interstate
80 (I-80) to a toll road.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation (PennDOT) submitted the updated application seeking
federal approval to toll I-80 as authorized by Act 44 of 2007. The
state’s original application was returned last year as deficient.

"It is concerning when a government agency spends public dollars to pay
for a study from a company with absolutely no experience on the subject
in order to get their way," Smith said. "The Turnpike Commission and the
Rendell Administration either gave a questionable deal to a firm with no
experience, or they just wanted to dictate the outcome of the I-80
‘valuation’ study to persuade the feds to approve the tolling of the
I-80 freeway."

Smith expressed his concerns to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
in the attached letter he sent today.

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