By Wayne Laepple
WASHINGTON, D.C. — WASHINGTON, D.C. -- State Rep. Russ Fairchild and Rep. Merle Phillips, along with Sen. John Gordner and 10 other members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly were joined Thursday by three congressmen as they met with the Federal Highway Administration to express strong opposition to the proposal to enact tolls on Interstate 80.
Fairchild, R-85 of Winfield, said it was “the most interesting meeting I’ve ever been involved with.”
Meeting in a Capitol Hill hearing room, everyone attending had an opportunity to address Greg Nadeau, deputy administrator of the FHWA and his staff.
“I think this was the first time they had actually had a face put to the opposition,” Fairchild said. As the discussion progressed, Fairchild said, he noticed FHWA staff became more engaged in what they were hearing.
“I think now they understand the differences between urban Pennsylvania and the rural areas,” Fairchild continued. “They now know the differences between the economies of the two corridors (the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-80). We emphasized how tolling would penalize the rural economy.”
Fairchild said in attending the meeting, he missed a session of the state house in Harrisburg for the first time in 21 years.
“That’s how important I think this issue is,” he concluded.
Sen. John Gordner, R-27 of Berwick, said, who said the “face time” with the FHWA officials was invaluable. Each delegate spoke for five or six minutes during the two-hour meeting.
“Our concerns haven’t changed,” he said. “There is no different interpretation because the law hasn’t changed.”
Gordner said Interstate 80 does not meet any of the criteria of the original law, which was designed for pilot programs to add high-occupancy lanes, lanes to relieve congestion or to add new exits. The state, he said, has spent $1.1 billion to upgrade and improve I-80 in the last 20 years, and the highway is in excellent condition.
“The last application was rejected over the valuation and debt service estimates, and the recent valuation is invalid,” he said. “It was done by a company with no experience in valuing highways. But if the PTC doesn’t get this, their debt load will become untenable in 20 years or so.”
Phillips, R-108 of Sunbury, agreed with Fairchild and Gordner that attitudes of the highway officials changed noticeably as the hearing progressed.
Phillips focused his remarks on how tolls on I-80 would affect trucking companies in the area, including Watsontown Trucking, Milton Trans and Moran Industries, as well as Weis Markets.
“We’re losing businesses in the area as it is,” he said. “Tolls would affect these companies, too.”
Phillisp said a letter signed by a number of other state legislators who did not attend the hearing was also included in the record.
Joining the state representatives were U.S. representatives Glenn Thompson, Paul Kanjorski and Kathy Dahlkemper. Rep Chris Carney, D-10 of Dimock, was scheduled to attend the meeting but was taken ill and did not attend. However, his legislative director, Aaron Davis, attended in his place.
In a written statement, Carney said, “This meeting provided a good opportunity for the administration to hear from representatives in our region about the dire impacts of tolling I-80. I have made my opposition clear from the get-go. Tolling I-80 would stifle economic development along the I-80 corridor, seriously hurt our region’s businesses and put an undue burden on our neighbors who use the highway on a daily basis.”
As the meeting ended, Nadeau said review of the application would be completed “judiciously and expeditiously,” but he would not provide a time frame.
