Foes of I-80 Pa. Tolls Release Study Detailing Costs

A new study released by foes of plans to toll Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania found that tolls would increase the cost of doing business in the region and would likely result in an increase in highway crashes as vehicles divert away from the highway.

The Oct. 12 study, conducted by Tracy Miller, an economics professor at Grove City College for the Coalition Against Tolling I-80, found that users of the highway already pay enough to maintain the highway, making tolls unnecessary.

In a statement, Pennsylvania Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Joe Brimmeier, said the commission’s “economic team will evaluate the data from the document and consider its conclusions if we receive federal authorization to proceed.”

Pennsylvania officials are preparing to again seek federal approval to toll I-80 as part a multi-billion dollar transportation funding plan approved in 2007, Act 44.

Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo said the commission hoped to have its application submitted “in the next two-to-four weeks.”

By Sean McNally
Senior Reporter

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