Congressmen aim to block plan to put tolls on Interstate 80 -- ...

I am surprised that there isn't more of an uproar about this. Those two congressmen were right on.

Rural PA has enough issues to deal with. They should not be subsidizing the failing SEPTA. Tolling I-80 for use in state infrastructure is one thing but subsidizing public transportation on the other side of the state is yet another.

If they do this, they should clearly define what the money can be used for. They should only put the tolls on quiet stretches that are unlikely to be used by in-state commuters, such as near Clearfield, Clarion, Hickory run, etc.

I predict a comprimise here. Anything is better than privatizing the turnpike.

I wondered if this was just a ploy to scare people. The idea is stupid! The state wants more money, not more buildings and equipment to maintain.
Levy an additional penny on every gallon of gas. People that drive more, pay a larger share toward road maintenance.
Is that just too simple or what?

if these states stopped spending money on everything their hearts desired their wouldn't be budget deficits.

Rendell is showing his arrogance on this issue and it is disturbing. He thinks that he can do what he pleases with a federal road and those two decent congressmen blocked him. The responses by him and Brady are entertaining at best.

Why should we be tolling a federal road? It isn't our road, it's the US government's road. Furthermore, why should tolls collected in northern rural PA be used to prop up Philadelphia, which has little to do with I-80? If there were protections to assure that the money was used on road improvements exclusively that would be one thing, but funding a loser like septa is another.

Matt wrote:

Rendell is showing his arrogance on this issue and it is disturbing. He thinks that he can do what he pleases with a federal road and those two decent congressmen blocked him. The responses by him and Brady are entertaining at best.
Why should we be tolling a federal road? It isn't our road, it's the US government's road. Furthermore, why should tolls collected in northern rural PA be used to prop up Philadelphia, which has little to do with I-80? If there were protections to assure that the money was used on road improvements exclusively that would be one thing, but funding a loser like septa is another.

1. I-80 is a state road, there is no such thing as federal, or federally owned roads.

2. The Philadelphia area is 1/3 of PA's economy. If it were not for state taxes collected from Phila and other big cities I-80 never would have been built and would not be maintained. Rural PA's tax contributions don't even come close to paying for the maintanence of I-80.

Rendell is just augmenting his standing as the worst governor of the 21st century.