Posted on 08/20/2016 7:49:57 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Slam on the brakes.
That's what state lawmakers want to do to increasingly frequent instances of motorists skirting payment of Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls.
The problem wouldn't be nearly as prevalent had many of those same legislators years ago taken a detour around the lame-brain idea that directly resulted in turnpike travel becoming significantly more costly. How costly? Pretty soon only Saudi Arabian sheiks will be able to afford the outrageous tolls, though those guys probably prefer to fly their personal planes from Pittsburgh to Breezewood.
Those lacking private jet transportation sidestep the tolls in renegade fashion. They fly through toll booth areas without paying, despite the fact photos of their license plates are taken to make them easily identifiable scofflaws.
The Turnpike Commission lost $5.4 million last year to Chevy Suburban outlaws, so the state Senate is considering legislation that would punish toll cheats. The proposed law would permit PennDOT to suspend a motorist's registration until outstanding tolls are paid.
That would treat the problem's symptom but not address its cause: tolls are too pricey.
The Turnpike Commission last month approved a 6 percent toll increase beginning in January. It's the ninth straight year tolls have risen, but there's light at the end of an extremely long tunnel.
Commission officials have predicted annual toll hikes of as much as 6 percent will only be necessary until 2044. By then, the E-ZPass will be a microchip not mounted on the inside of your windshield but implanted directly beneath your left earlobe.
The toll hikes are needed because of an ill-conceived law passed in 2007 that requires the Turnpike Commission to pay PennDOT $450 million a year to help fund mass transit and pay for infrastructure improvements. (The amount drops to $50 million annually in 2023.)
At the time, Turnpike Commission officials essentially said, “Four hundred and fifty million? You think there's turnpike treasure buried underneath the New Stanton service plaza?”
“Not at all,” legislative leaders effectively replied. “The same law requiring the PennDOT payments authorizes you to toll Interstate 80 in northern Pennsylvania. Balance your books on the backs of truck drivers.”
“Wait,” Turnpike Commission officials said. “It's illegal to use tolls collected on a federal interstate for anything other than the operation and maintenance of that interstate.”
“Really?” legislative leaders said. “Wow. We really should have researched this thing a bit better.”
The feds predictably nixed the plan, but the Turnpike Commission remained on the hook for the PennDOT payments. Toll increases alone are not nearly enough to pay for them, so the commission has been borrowing money at ridiculous levels. About two-thirds of its $980 million budget is dedicated to paying down debt.
Nine years after its passage, the illegal I-80 legislation just isn't turning motorists into scofflaws. It has the Turnpike Commission well on the road to bankruptcy.
Nine years later, this ludicrous law continues to exact an absurdly high, well, toll.
I drive New Stanton to Breezewood fairly regularly. US 30 averages only 20 minutes more. Just make sure you drive a reasonable speed and that your brakes are in good shape.
I80 and I81 works great for those of us who just want to pass through PA.
I have driven through that state hundreds of times and never paid a toll.
As I mentioned before, I drive from Maryland to Michigan a handful of times per year. I’ve always wanted to try the run on the Lincoln Highway (30)but for 500 miles, it’s significantly longer and I never have the time.
The last time I went was to help my daughter move two weekends ago. It was truly an in/out trip. Most times I go, I end up sleeping in the car at least one night.
When I lived in PA and drove the turnpike, I always figured the tolls were to pay to see the world’s biggest pothole collection.
No "market forces" are involved in either the pricing of the PA Turnpike nor the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Monopolies built both and set their prices arbitrarily and well outside of any considerations of merchantability. The sole recourse of any consumer is not to use them. This is precisely why private entities are not permitted to form illegal monopolies.
As for the claim that you've "driven both [I80 and I76/I376] many times" color me skeptical. No person familiar with both roads would claim that one represents a viable substitute for the other.
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