WASHINGTON – Congressman Chris Carney (D-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 U.S. Department of Transportation reportedly is prepared to issue its decision on the tolling proposal, possibly by the end of this month.  The Federal Highway Administration rejected the state’s previous application in September 2008.

PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission, with the backing of Gov. Edward Rendell, submitted a revised application, under provisions of “Act 44”, which relies on tolls from the highway to fund infrastructure improvements statewide.

The latest meeting in Washington provided 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,” 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.”