U.S. Rep. John E. Peterson – 7/6/08

This page was last updated on July 6, 2008.

Toll on I-80 would be huge mistake; U.S. Rep. John E. Peterson, R-5, Venango County; Beaver County Times; July 6, 2008.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“Short sighted and misinformed are the words I use to describe Tuesday’s editorial, ‘Lease resistance: Imposing tolls on I-80 is still the best option.’

[RWC] I hesitate to dump on Mr. Peterson too much because he’s dumping on a proposal with which I also disagree. As a reminder, the proposal discussed in the subject editorial wants I-80 tolls to be used to transfer wealth from I-80 drivers to users of other roads and government-owned and run bus systems like BCTA and PAT.

I don’t know what Mr. Peterson’s position would be if the proposal were to collect tolls on I-80 solely for the “care and feeding” of I-80.

“What this editorial fails to point out is that imposing tolls on I-80 will create an economic disaster for the entire commonwealth, not just rural Pennsylvania.

“Just consider this: the Pennsylvania Turnpike was built as a toll road.

“Therefore, common sense says folks who drive on the turnpike and businesses in that corridor expect to pay a toll. Interstate 80, on the other hand, was built and is maintained with federal dollars — meaning taxpayers have already footed the bill.

“To put this in perspective, a round trip on I-80, if tollbooths are erected, will start at $51 for a car and $308 for a truck and will grow to $66 and $400, respectively. This will simply put Pennsylvania out of business.

“Meanwhile, leasing the turnpike would net the commonwealth $12.8 billion dollars — debt free — to aid the ailing transportation infrastructure and mass transit.”

[RWC] Mr. Peterson goes off the tracks here. Why should any revenue realized by the Turnpike be used for anything other than the “care and feeding” of the Turnpike?

“What does tolling I-80 get taxpayers?

“Another tax and $25 billion in bonded debt and interest backed by taxpayers. The borrowing scheme associated with tolling I-80 is designed to benefit the friends of Harrisburg politicians, not the citizens of Pennsylvania.”

[RWC] Note Mr. Peterson’s drive-by accusation and that he provides no evidence to support the innuendo.

“I think the choice is clear: we must have a world-class management team operate the turnpike, keep I-80 toll free, and dedicate billions to fund transportation infrastructure and mass transit — or we will have the highest tolls in America on the two east-west thoroughfares without a four-lane alternative, less funding to fix our roads and bridges, a closed-for-business sign on the commonwealth and a doubling in size of the patronage-ridden turnpike commission.

“You make the call.”

[RWC] Mr. Peterson is off the tracks again. Why do we need to “dedicate billions to fund … mass transit?” I expect better of a representative with an ACU lifetime rating of 91%. Mass transit should be funded solely via the fare box.