HARRISBURG (Oct. 25, 2007) — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) today announced the schedule for a series of public meetings it will hold across the Interstate-80 corridor in November. The purpose of the eight meetings is to provide information and receive community input about the conversion of I-80 to a toll road as set forth in Act 44, the state’s landmark transportation-funding law.
Under Act 44, the turnpike will transfer $83.3 billion over 50 years (a $1.67 billion a year average) to PennDOT for ground transportation statewide. Based on traffic and revenue growth projections, the turnpike anticipates generating an additional $33 billion during that time for an overall investment of $116.3 billion ($2.3 a billion a year average) toward I-80 improvements and other transportation projects.
“We have made a commitment to an open process that involves the public and provides everyone an opportunity to be heard,” said Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier. “This initial round of meetings will allow I-80 motorists and local residents to ask questions and express concerns.”
Act 44, signed into law in July, uses several funding streams to support transportation: increased tolls on the existing turnpike; new tolls to be collected on I-80; and the sale of PTC revenue bonds. In compliance with Act 44, the PTC, earlier this month, entered into a 50-year agreement with PennDOT to lease I-80 and assume responsibility for managing the interstate.
Already, the PTC has made an initial $62.5 million payment to PennDOT. A second payment of $229.2 million will be made by Oct. 31, allowing PennDOT to have the funds to expedite the repair of bridges and local roads across the state. In all, four payments totaling $750 million will be made by April, 2008. Payments to PennDOT increase in subsequent years.
“Act 44 is already paying dividends for our Commonwealth. This new revenue of nearly $292 million is a significant first step in addressing our transportation-funding crisis,” Brimmeier said. “We all understand that our communities and our economy cannot continue to grow without a viable transportation network.”
Pennsylvania faces an annual funding gap of more than $600 million in our interstate system alone. “Act 44 and I-80 tolling are meaningful steps to address our transportation-financing needs today and well into the future,” Brimmeier said. “Because it represents a basic shift in how we maintain and improve our transportation systems, we have an obligation to provide all of the information we can — and listen to the public’s concerns — about this toll-conversion project.”
The PTC and PennDOT filed a joint application with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) earlier this month, seeking approval to toll the 311-mile I-80. Act 44 provides for up to 10 toll-collection plazas statewide, which the turnpike would construct on the highway between exits. The PTC hired a transportation and infrastructure consulting firm to conduct a traffic-and-revenue study to help determine the most suitable toll-plaza locations. That study will likely be completed in early 2008. The PTC will convene a second series of public meetings after the study is completed.
Next month’s meetings — to be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. — are part of an extensive public-involvement program to share information and receive input. The public is encouraged to attend the open-house meetings any time during the four-hour period to view displays and speak face-to-face with project staff. In addition, two formal presentations will be made at each meeting: The first presentation will be held on the specified dates at 5 p.m. and the second presentation at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are welcome to participate in either of the presentations. Display materials and handouts will be made available prior to the meetings and can be found on the project website from Nov. 7 through Nov. 20. Materials will be posted to www.paturnpike.com/I80. The public meetings will be held on the following dates and at these specific locations:
Clarion — Nov. 7
Clarion High School
219 Liberty St.
Clarion, PA 16214
Clearfield — Nov. 7
Clearfield Area High School
2831 Washington Ave.
Clearfield, PA 16830
Bellefonte — Nov. 8
Bellefonte Area Middle School
100 N. School St.
Bellefonte, PA 16823
DuBois — Nov. 8
Dubois Country Club
10 Lakeside Ave.
Dubois, PA 15801
Milton — Nov. 12
Milton Area High School
700 Mahoning St.
Milton, PA 17847
White Haven — Nov. 12
Mountain Laurel Resort
Rt. 940
White Haven, PA 18661
East Stroudsburg — Nov. 19
Notre Dame High School
60 Spagenburg Ave.
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Grove City — Nov. 19
Grove City College
100 Campus Drive
Grove City, PA 16217 |
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