Plan To Toll I-80 Blocked By Congress

Two western PA Congressmen, U.S. Reps. Phil English, R-Erie, and John Peterson, R-Venango, have inserted language into the federal transportation bill to prohibit the use of federal funds construct toll booths on I-80.

Congressman Peterson issued a statement Tuesday claiming that Rendell was trying to tax motorists in rural Pennsylvania to find more cash for mass transit services in Philadelphia. The proposed tolls would generate about $532 million for highway improvements and $414 million for mass transit per year.

Earlier, Federal Highway Funds for Pennsylvania were diverted from highway projects to help fund mass transit. Part of the proposed tolling of I-80 would also go to fund mass transit, not a good trend.

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