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Americans for a Strong National Highway Network applauds rejection
of I-80 toll application
The Trucker News Services
Published on Monday, September 15, 2008
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WASHINGTON — Americans for a Strong National Highway Network,
a coalition of users of the Interstate Highway System and the highway-
based service industry, today lauded the Federal Highway Administration’
s (FHWA) rejection of Pennsylvania’s application to toll Interstate 80.
On August 27 the coalition delivered a letter to United States Secretary of
Transportation Mary Peters asking FHWA to deny the application
because it was “inconsistent with the provisions and spirit” of the
Interstate Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program (ISRRPP).
Americans for a Strong National Highway Network is encouraged that the
federal government rejected Pennsylvania’s application to toll I-80, one of
our nation’s central arteries and greatest transportation assets. Tolling
this important interstate link would have devastated local economies and
created a dangerous precedent.
Gov. Rendell today announced that the rejection of the I-80 tolling
application makes privatization of the Pennsylvania Turnpike a priority,
urging the state legislature to quickly approve this measure. The governor
has continued to suggest that tolling I-80 or the privatization of the
Turnpike are the only available options for funding improvements to
Pennsylvania’s highway infrastructure, ignoring existing viable and
equitable funding mechanisms that have built and maintained America’s
infrastructure, such as the fuel tax.
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Americans for a Strong National Highway
Network is encouraged that the federal
government rejected Pennsylvania’s
application to toll I-80, one of our nation’s
central arteries and greatest transportation
assets. Tolling this important interstate link
would have devastated local economies and
created a dangerous precedent.
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As representatives of the majority of Interstate Highway System users and highway-based small businesses nationwide,
Americans for a Strong National Highway Network is opposed to leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The coalition believes
ceding control of existing highway infrastructure to for-profit entities ignores the public interest. Accordingly, the coalition urges
the Pennsylvania legislature to continue deliberations on this important topic and to weigh all potential funding sources.
The coalition looks forward to working with Congress during next year’s surface transportation bill to ensure that the interests
of the driving public are protected.
The “Americans for a Strong National Highway Network” is a coalition designed to give further voice to the millions of highway
users and businesses in order to keep our Nation competitive in the global marketplace. The founding principles of the coalition
include: advancing the rights of American motorists to travel on safe, reliable public roads; to maintain a robust national highway
network for the seamless, efficient transport of goods and the military; and to hold government accountable for ensuring
transportation financing is transparent, motivated by the public good, and dedicated to transportation purposes.
(source: The Trucker .com)
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