Legislators Drop Amendment to Block I-80 Tolls

An amendment that would have blocked tolling on Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania was dropped from the 2008 federal transportation appropriations legislation, said the congressmen who introduced the measure.

“Pennsylvania’s best and most successful businesses will be immensely burdened un-der this tolling and borrowing scheme,” Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.), who introduced the amendment in July along with Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.), said in a statement.

In mid-October, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation signed an agreement to lease I-80 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the semi-public, independent body that manages the operations of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

The lease still needs the approval of the Federal Highway Administration to move forward.