U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) recently submitted public comments to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) strongly opposing the plan to place tolls on the North Fork Bridges in Jefferson County.
PennDOT’s Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership Initiative has proposed tolling nine bridges statewide, including the two North Fork Bridges in Thompson’s district. The Public-Private Transportation Partnership Board approved the plan last year. The move is unpopular with the public, Thompson said in a letter to John Serian, PennDOT District 10 county manager, and legally questionable.
“While there is no doubt that Pennsylvania requires a reliable funding mechanism to maintain and replace existing infrastructure, the commonwealth collected more than $6.6 billion in revenue in November 2021, which is 3.4 percent higher than anticipated, leaving a $1 billion surplus,” Thompson said. “Pennsylvania is expected to receive more than $18 billion from the recent federal infrastructure package, including $1.6 billion for bridge replacements. With these windfalls, PennDOT should exhaust all funding options prior to further exploring tolls.”
Thompson said he was concerned tolls would have a negative impact on residents living near the bridges because truck traffic would be diverted and local roads would require more maintenance. He also fears the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will mismanage the funds.