U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) recently submitted public comments to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) opposing a plan that would toll the Canoe Creek Bridges in Clarion County.
PennDOT’s Major Bridge Public-Private Initiative project would establish tolls along nine bridges statewide, including the Canoe Creek Bridges in Thompson’s congressional district.
Nearly all residents in Clarion, 90 percent, oppose tolling, according to a survey sent to 12,000 of Thompson’s constituents. In addition, when PennDOT sought public input in November 2020 on alternative funding options, polling was opposed.
“While there is no doubt Pennsylvania requires a reliable funding mechanism to maintain and replace existing infrastructure, the commonwealth collected nearly $3 billion in revenue in October 2021,” Thompson said. “That is 6 percent higher than anticipated, which leaves a $788.2 million budget surplus. Pennsylvania is expected to receive more than $18 billion from the recent federal infrastructure package, including $1.6 billion for bridge replacements. PennDOT should exhaust all funding avenues before placing an additional tax on the traveling public.”
Thompson said he worried PennDOT had already reached the conclusion that tolls are necessary despite having failed to conduct the studies needed to make a decision on a policy change. He urged the department to reconsider.