Texan jumps into I-80 toll fray

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Lone Star State Republican, has proposed blocking further tolling of interstate highways, threatening Pennsylvania's plan to generate nearly $1 billion a year for mass transit, bridge and highway programs.

"My bill will protect drivers from paying tolls on roads that were already paid for by taxpayers," Hutchison, who sits on the Senate transportation and appropriations committees, said in a statement.

Her legislation might be matched by a companion bill in the U.S. House.

Republican Reps. John Peterson of Pleasantville in Venango County and Phil English of Erie are fighting plans to toll I-80, which traverses their districts. Their aides were discussing strategy Thursday with Hutchison's office.

"We're going to go over and meet with her," Peterson said. "We'll just get together and join hands."

Hutchison wants to block a Texas Department of Transportation plan to "buy back" federal highways to start tolling them. Her bill creates bipartisan opposition to interstate tolling plans.

U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., is a longtime critic of interstate tolling proposals, said Jim Berard, spokesman for the House Transportation Committee, which Oberstar chairs.

State Rep. Joe Markosek, a Monroeville Democrat who chairs the House Transportation Committee, said Hutchison's bill, Oberstar's opposition and the efforts by English and Peterson threaten to derail the state's plans.

"While I cannot control Congress, I would suggest that they think about providing more federal funding -- instead of cutting -- to the states instead of trying to block our efforts," said Markosek, who supports tolling I-80. "We know our state and its needs far better than they do from Texas or Minnesota."

On Wednesday, the same day Hutchison proposed her bill, Gov. Ed Rendell reiterated a backup plan that would generate transportation revenue by leasing the main 360-mile turnpike between Ohio and New Jersey. Rendell proposed leasing the turnpike last year, but the idea failed to win enough backing from state lawmakers.

"Senator Hutchison's efforts merely confirm the prudence of the governor's plan to further explore the potential lease of the turnpike," Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said. "With congressional initiatives aimed at blocking the tolling plan, it is the only way to ensure the continued availability of funding for the commonwealth's critical transportation needs, which have been brought to the forefront by the Minnesota bridge collapse."

Tolling I-80 was the centerpiece of the state's transportation package, called Act 44, approved in July. Projected to generate $946 million a year for 10 years, it would direct additional revenue to Port Authority of Allegheny County and allow PennDOT to spend more money on bridges and highways.

The state's plan must be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

English and Peterson attacked the plan, saying it would hurt business and development in their rural districts, and burden residents who live near the highway.

In July, English proposed the Free Highway Protection Act, which would require the state to pay a 100 percent federal excise tax on tolls if it started charging drivers on I-80.

Peterson tacked on to an annual transportation spending bill an amendment that calls for blocking tolls on I-80.

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