HARRISBURG (July 14, 2008) - The PA Turnpike Commission today unveiled a
sweeping plan to repair and ultimately rebuild Interstate 80. The fist decade of capital
improvement projects calls for an investment of more than $2.5 billion - four times the
current investment in the Interstate.
"We now have a detailed improvement plan for I-80 backed by an increasing revenue
stream," said Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier. "As the stewards of I-80, this plan ensures we
are passing on a first-class transportation system to the next generation."
The plan includes construction of two new interchanges linking I-99 and I-80 and the
replacement or resurfacing of about 80 percent of I-80's 311-mile roadway. It calls for
replacing 60 original I-80 bridges in the first decade alone. Taking into account the larger
size and cost of some of these bridge projects, this represents approximately 24% of the
original I-80 bridges replaced in the first decade alone. The remaining original bridges will
be replaced over the life of the lease.
More than half of Interstate 80 is 35 to 50 years old and is reaching its expected life. The
bridges and pavement need to be reconstructed from the ground up or the surface will
deteriorate.
"PennDOT has done an admirable job managing resources and repairing the surface,"
Brimmeier noted. "But the bottom line is that we need to rebuild I-80, and PennDOT
cannot provide the funding for this effort."
Under Act 44, the state's transportation funding bill approved last year, 45 percent of the
state's Interstate system will be fully funded through tolls. Both the PA Turnpike and all of
I-80 will be self-sustaining.
Brimmeier noted that the stakes for Pennsylvania could not be higher. The state is already
facing a $660 million gap in funding to maintain its Interstate system, according to
PennDOT. Absent successful implementation of Act 44, it will fall further behind.
In the first decade of the I-80 renewal plan:
- The Turnpike Commission will begin construction of two interchanges linking I-80
and I-99 at an estimated cost of $179 million in the first three years of the plan.
- About 60 of the "original" bridges will be replaced. The remaining original bridges
will be replaced over the 50-year lease. All structurally deficient, weak link, fracture
critical, and bridges with less than 15 feet overhead clearance will be under way in
the first decade.
- About 80 percent of the 311 miles of I-80 in Pennsylvania will be replaced or
resurfaced.
- The Turnpike Commission will invest approximately $4 million per year (inflated
annually) in Intelligent Transportation System upgrades, including motorist warning
signs to enhance safety and mobility in the corridor.
As mandated by Act 44, the Turnpike has leased I-80 from PennDOT for 50 years and is
preparing to assume management of the Interstate. The Commonwealth is seeking Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) authorization to collect tolls on the highway as part of an
overall plan to generate a total of $83.3 billion in funding for roads, bridges and mass transit
agencies over five decades.
Project officials are developing possible locations for up to 10 toll facilities along the I-80
corridor. Locations will be presented to nine regional planning organizations this month, and
proposed toll sites may also be presented in upcoming community meetings to provide an
opportunity for public input.
By July 31, 2008 the Turnpike will have provided nearly $1 billion in Act 44 funding over 12
months for road, bridge and mass transit projects. Under Act 44, signed by Gov. Rendell in
July, 2007, annual Turnpike payments to PennDOT will average more than $1 billion over
the next 12 years or almost $1.7 billion a year over 50 years.
Act 44 calls for increased tolls on the current Turnpike system and new tolls on I-80. Under
the law, two-thirds of new revenue will be generated by tolls on the current Turnpike system
and one-third will be collected from new tolls on I-80. I-80 toll revenues will not be used for
mass transit.
Last December, FHWA asked the Commonwealth to provide more detail in its tolling
application - a move that in the federal agency's own words constituted neither acceptance
nor denial of I-80 tolling. "We are committed to providing FHWA everything they need to
make a sound, informed decision." Brimmeier noted. "After months of in-depth engineering
work needed to answer their questions, we hope to resubmit our amended application
sometime before the end of the summer."
"We witnessed the recent closing of I-95, a vital national artery in April. Routinely, we see
stories from around the state about bridges that need to be restricted or closed," Brimmeier
said. "The Turnpike, under Act 44, is helping to address this crisis without raising taxes."
For more information on Act 44 and the I-80 improvement plan, go to www.paturnpike.com/i80.
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