U.S. Congressmen criticizes Pennsylvania's transportation policies
U.S. Representative John Peterson explains why we should blame poor money managment, not a lack of funds, for the dilapidated state of Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges. Rep. Peterson mentions the redirecting of funds to pay off mass transit debt and the corruption of the Turnpike Commission. He also explains why tolling I-80 is bad policy.
For more information on I-80 and the turnpike lease go to www.turnpikefacts.com.
4 comments:
what does the turnpike commission have to do with funding state roads and bridges? i am having a hard time following this. the pa turnpike is self-run, as would I-80 if it is tolled. as for the mass transit debt, who knows? but, if you wanna talk poor money managment...PennDOT!
Act 44 gave the PTC the power to toll and operate I-80. In exchange, the Commonwealth of PA will be dependent on payments from the PTC backed by billions in bonded debt. Tolls from I-80 will directed to mass transit systems, as well as other roads and bridges projects, in money-laundering scheme the PTC had to devise in order to try to get federal approval to tax I-80 drivers. The PTC is banking on people like you not being able to follow this...
The turnpike is now paying for the state infrastructure as we speak, so why all the grief with the Turnpike? They are paying the bills....Penndot is not. And you seem to have a serious beef with the Turnpike for doing so. Maybe they should raise the gas tax instead, and give you something to really complain about. There is no way the state should hand over its "Money-maker" to a foreign company and you are foolish for trying to convince the public to do so. The public has spoken and they dont want to give away a valuable asset. One last thing.....remember the Valentine's day ice storm a few years ago.......Im sure those thousands of motorist stuck on the "Penndot controlled" interstates will never forget it.
Who is "they"...it is US the taxpayers and toll payers who are paying for the infrastructure. Problem is that it is more expensive to citizens than the Turnpike lease option.
The Turnpike is hardly a "money-maker". Indeed, it has only been a toll eater from the beginning. As one of the least efficient and wasteful toll roads around, we are far from getting a deal.
The public is actually MORE opposed to the Turnpike Commission's plan than the lease. See the latest polling. Not that that is a good measure of good public policy, however.
Privately operated toll roads were also open during the snow storm that closed the interstates.
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