Carney Voices Strong Opposition To I-80 Tolling In Meeting With Secretary Lahood

Press Release

Congressman Chris Carney (PA-10) and other members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation met with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez this evening to express their strong opposition to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's proposal to establish tolls along I-80 in Pennsylvania. The meeting provided Congressman Carney with the opportunity to discuss the dire economic consequences that tolling I-80 would have on northeastern and central Pennsylvania. Congressman Carney and staff have expressed their opposition to the plan in meetings with administrators from the Department of Transportation over the past several weeks.

"The Department of Transportation was right to twice reject the turnpike's application and I continue to do all I can to ensure that they do so once again," Congressman Carney said. "Tolling I-80 would stifle economic development along the Interstate, place an undue burden on the working families who regularly use the highway and seriously hurt our region's businesses. This meeting provided yet another opportunity for me to make clear how the people of northeastern and central Pennsylvania would be negatively impacted by placing tolls along I-80."

Congressman Carney and other members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation met with Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez on Nov. 19 to express their opposition to the revised application, submitted Oct. 30. Congressman Carney facilitated a meeting in December between Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau and area legislators, where broad opposition to the plan was expressed on behalf of local lawmakers.

The Federal Highway Administration rejected the state's previous application in September 2008.

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