Rep. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) continues to vigorously oppose the latest efforts by the Rendell Administration and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to toll Interstate 80 by issuing today a sternly worded letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Calvin I. Scovel detailing potential conflicts of interest and examples of pay-to-play as in a recent valuation analysis.  

“The alleged independent consulting firm hired by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to calculate the value of this critical transportation asset cannot be considered an independent evaluation of the merits of tolling I-80,” said Scavello.

Scavello has opposed the tolling of I-80 since it was first proposed by Gov. Ed Rendell to raise money to help generate funds for transportation infrastructure and mass transit improvements around the state.  He was part of a delegation of state legislators who went to Washington D.C. on Dec. 17 to meet with four key officials with the Federal Highway Administration to encourage the rejection of the current petition to make I-80 a toll road.

In part, the letter states: “This latest iteration of the I-80 tolling application includes a favorable market valuation analysis of I-80 done by a firm called Provident Capital Advisors. Serious questions persist regarding the firm’s independence and its qualifications to do this type of analysis.

“The Turnpike Commission is ultimately the client and it most likely paid for the analysis and opinion to be prepared, either directly or indirectly...Provident Capital Advisors had never previously issued an opinion on the valuation of a transportation infrastructure facility, and has no prior experience in transportation infrastructure finance generally.

“In light of all of these legitimate concerns, no consideration should be given to the commission’s application to toll I-80 without thorough scrutiny of its policies and practices,” the letter ends.

“What concerns me as well is that if Pennsylvania gets the approval for tolling I-80, New Jersey and New York will be right behind in toll road requests.  More than 25,000 commuters travel from Monroe County to New York and New Jersey on a daily basis,” said Scavello.  “My ultimate worry is that New Jersey would follow suit and request that its section of I-80 become a toll road as well, which would put a tremendous financial burden on our commuting population.

A decision on the latest proposal to toll I-80 is expected in the near future.

Editor’s note: Click here to read the letter to Inspector General Calivin I. Scovel from Rep. Scavello

Rep. Mario Scavello

176th District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

(570) 839-0313

(717) 787-7732

Contact: Todd Abele
tabele@pahousegop.com

(717) 783-3957

Member Site:  MarioScavello.com

Caucus Site:  PAHouseGOP.com