The problem is, they’re also floating bonds to fund the $450 million per year diversion to public transit systems. That is causing them to raise tolls at the rate of 6% a year, which is still roughly 3 times the official inflation rate.
If the turnpike only had to fund its widening and reconstruction program, it would probably be raising the tolls at a slower annual rate.
Well, we would really need to see the budget for the turnpike, and see how much is collected in tolls, versus what are the maintenance needs for just the turnpike itself. Then we would also need to see where does the gas tax money in Pennsylvania go.
Theoretically the polls paid on a toll road should go for the maintenance of that specific road. And theoretically the gas taxes we all pay should go for road maintenance. These should theoretically be dedicated funding sources paid by the users of those particular roads.
Is this how things work in the real world? Apparently not.
And what of the fees the truckers pay when they going to the weigh station to be weighed, and are assessed fees based on the weight of the haul? Theoretically that money should be going for repair and maintenance of the roads the trucks drive on.