Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls may or may not be "too pricey" compared to the cost of taking local roads or I-80 across Pennsylvania. The market should decide. Price tolls too high and everyone will take the back roads or I-80.
This issue is that some people are stealing the PA Turnpike tolls. "If only the tolls were cheaper, people wouldn't need to steal!" I think you can make the same argument about just about anything. "If only ____ were cheaper, people wouldn't need to steal!"
I80 is not a viable alternative to I76/I376 in ANY way, shape, manner, or form.
I76 connects Pittsburgh and Philadelphia with all major points in between including the state capital. I80 was designed as "The Keystone Shortway." If effectively bypasses EVERY major city in Pennsylvania and was intended as a bypass route connecting New York and The Great Lakes. Even worse, it is a minimum of 80 miles north of I76 throughout its entire run.
“The market should decide.”
Actually it’s a public utility. Considering that a big percentage (don’t know the number, but it is big) goes to pay for public transportation in Phili and Pit (or mass transit, as they call it out there, LOL), it’s instead an indirect tax. With that approach, one could argue that they could raise the tolls to monopoly level, where the idea is to maximize revenue, regardless of operational costs. In Canada that’s about 40 cents per mile, at least on one of their toll roads (407 ETR) - which is much, much, more than it costs to operate (which is likely under 10 cents) - but 40 cents does maximize revenue, as there are enough willing to pay for using it at that price.
Also, with that approach, it would be like telling people they have one choice for electric power, and then charging them $1.00 per kwh (when a competitive price might be 12 cents) - and prohibiting competition (and generators). If they don’t like it, they can put in a solar/battery system which will only cost them 35 cents. If they cannot do that for some reason, they can move. But $1.00 maximizes revenue for the utility, so tough...that is what the rate will be.
Pretty much what the PA Turnpike is doing now, at least from I read. The pleasures of near-monopoly pricing - they have a great thing going - their unionized workers get inflation-adjusted pensions, and they still have money to hand over to the inner cities to help finance their boondoggles (which is how they can continue to get away with it). The only people screwed by this are those that have to use the road itself, and they’re constantly told that the Turnpike Authority has a huge debt and no money for repairs - which keeps them off their back.