The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Opinion

October 15, 2009

OUR VIEW: Tolls on I-80 likely would devastate area’s economy

When we talk about Homeland Security, we usually think about defending the United States against physical attacks from outside the country.

However, there’s a different kind of assault involving the security of our homeland right here in Mercer County and it’s coming from our own state leaders. The financial security of our county is being threatened by the rejuvenated attempt of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to toll I-80.

That became clearer than ever with The Herald story this week concerning a study done by Grove City College’s Tracy C. Miller, an associate professor of economics. The report demonstrates that the impact on our area might even be more devastating than initially thought.

A frightening part of the report detailed that a toll on I-80 would likely result in a loss of $1 billion to residents, businesses and communities along the highway, thus costing jobs and lowering property values.

Despite the efforts of all our local elected officials on the state level, a proposal to toll the road was still submitted to the federal government in an earlier attempt for approval. Luckily, the proposal was turned down by the Federal Highway Administration.

However, the proposal has been revamped and changed to try to appease the FHA and gain approval for tolling the road.

One of the brightest hopes against the tolling provided in the report indicates that the state may be exaggerating the need for the tolls. Miller said that the state’s own figures show the annual cost of maintaining the highway is about $80 million. But in 2006, trucks paid more than $90 million in taxes and user fees while cars paid more than $40 million in gas taxes for miles traveled on I-80.

Even people who aren’t smarter than a fifth-grader should be able to add those figures and come out with the state making a profit rather than losing money.

Miller’s report provided some true insight on the potential impact of the tolls, which is really just a hidden way to provide more funding for transit operations in the state’s two major cities — Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

He points out that about 75,000 people work for an employer depending on I-80 for shipping and some of those jobs will be lost. If there is a tolling of I-80, some of the businesses that have formed there, may move to areas which will allow cheaper transportation costs for their goods.

Many firms from the county would face higher transportation costs and one manufacturer reported that shipping costs would increase by as much as $900,000. How could that business hope to survive?

The report reveals many more facts that make it imperative that all our state officials from this locale continue to battle against the tolls. But more than likely the real war will come at the federal level where we need U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, who represents the majority of northwestern Pennsylvania, to continue to fight our cause.

The financial security of Mercer County — already unstable under the weak economy — is at stake over this issue. If tolling of I-80 becomes a reality, Miller’s next report might be on the economic death of Mercer County.

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