Don't Approve I-80 Tolling Application, House Republican Leader Smith Says To US Transportation Department
Leader questions Turnpike’s ‘valuation’ study
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.
Representative Sam Smith
Republican Leader
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: Stephen Miskin (717) 787-3845