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HARRISBURG, March 18 –
State Rep. Babette Josephs is adding her voice to those of the governor, other legislators, labor leaders and advocates who say the tolling of Interstate 80 is paramount to the future of Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure.Josephs sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, urging him to approve Pennsylvania's plan to convert the 133 miles of I-80 into a toll road, as indicated in Act 44 of 2007.
"Turning I-80 into a toll road is key to improving our overall transportation needs, from fixing our aging bridges and roads, to providing dedicated funding for public transit agencies -- all without increasing taxes," Josephs said. "This proposal met the requirements for a long-term solution. It will be a predictable and dedicated funding source that can be sustained over time and cover our varied transportation needs statewide.
"Without this funding, the state's transportation system will be at a great loss. The Southeastern Transportation Authority has already indicated that without this funding, an estimated $120 million for SEPTA alone, it will have to cut back on capital improvements. Without this funding, there will be thousands of fewer jobs in the greater Philadelphia area and tens of thousands of jobs across the state."
Josephs also is reaching out to her federal counterparts. She said she is urging the members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation to support the tolling plan.
"As our representatives at the federal level, it is incumbent on all of our congressmen, including Senators Specter and Casey, to encourage Secretary LaHood to approve the state's tolling application. They should understand how vital this tolling application is," Josephs said.
Act 44 was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law in 2007. The law called for an increase in tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the tolling of I-80. The increase in tolls is providing an extra $900 million this year to fund work in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, bringing the total since Act 44 was enacted to $2.5 billion.
Act 44 also provides for a dedicated funding stream for public transit agencies.
"This dedicated fund will help ensure that everyone who uses public transit -- from the residents of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, to the rural counties and small communities -- can get where they are going safely and when they need to," Josephs said.
The federal government has twice refused Pennsylvania's application to toll I-80. A third application is still pending. Gov. Rendell and the turnpike commission reportedly are planning to meet with LaHood on the issue next week.
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