The following statement was issued by Rep. Mario M. Scavello (R-Monroe) in response to news today that the Federal Highway Administration has once again rejected Pennsylvania’s petition to turn Interstate 80 into a toll road: 

“I have been fighting against the tolling of I-80 since the day the bill passed the House. I am vehemently opposed to placing this financial burden on local residents and businesses.   

“The tolling of I-80 would have been a regional solution to a statewide problem. If I-80 would have been approved in Pennsylvania, New Jersey would have been next in line, which would have put a real burden on the 30,000 people living in Monroe County and commuting to New Jersey and New York each day.” 

“It’s great to see the Federal Highway Administration agrees – once again – with our view that Pennsylvania should not be permitted to create a toll road when the intent is to use a portion of toll profits for anything but the reconstruction and maintenance of the highway.   

“The whole premise of Act 44 was that tolling would generate revenue that would ultimately be used support mass transportation, particularly in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.  The federal government has rejected that argument repeatedly. 

“I traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate against this tolling. I have worked with congressional leaders to explain how this would impact the people I represent. I have drafted a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general questioning the independence of a study done by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. 

“This decision is a victory for local commuters who will not have to pay a local toll on I-80 knowing those funds will be leveraged to fund highway and mass transit projects outside our region and across the state.” 

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