OOIDA Call to Action - Pennsylvania Members
November 2, 2005

Attention: Pennsylvania truckers! You have an opportunity to strike a blow for accountability and fairness at the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and to put a stop to enormous hikes in tolls at the same time.

The state's Senate Transportation Committee is sitting on a bill that would give the governor authority to veto toll bridge commission actions that are out of line.

The bill - SB664 - also would require state officials from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to conduct audits of the agency that sets tolls and manages bridges over the Delaware River.

Similar efforts have been brought up for consideration in the Pennsylvania General Assembly during the past few years but have failed to gain approval.

This year's version, SB664, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Bethlehem, would allow the governor to veto commission actions within 10 days after receiving certified commission meeting minutes.

The commission, which maintains and operates seven toll bridges and 13 free bridges between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, exists under an interstate agreement that requires each state and Congress to adopt identical laws regulating its operation.

Boscola has been critical of the commission since it implemented a December 2002 toll increase that many residents, business owners and truck drivers decried as unreasonable.

The increase hiked tolls on trucks from 80 cents per axle to $2.25 per axle. Tolls on cars were doubled from 50 cents to $1. Truck tolls have since increased to $3.25 per axle. Tolls on cars have dropped a quarter to 75 cents.

The bridge commission said the new rates were needed to help fund a 10-year, $526 million capital improvement plan that has since increased to $624 million.

However, The Morning Call later reported that the commission intended to use about $250 million from the increases for unauthorized projects.

Although agency officials deny they misled anyone about the commission's intentions, bill supporters contend it is important that annual joint state audits be conducted to ensure that toll revenues are being properly used.

SB664 would address how the toll revenue is to be spent.

The provision was approved in New Jersey years ago.

We can't overstate how important it is that you make yourself heard to the transportation panel's Democratic and Republican leaders.

Contact information for the panel's chairmen is as follows:

Sen. Roger Madigan, majority chair
Telephone: (717) 787-3280
E-mail: rmadigan@pasen.gov

Sen. Barry Stout, minority chair
Telephone: (717) 787-1463
E-mail: stout@pasenate.com

Please contact both chairmen as well as your own state senator. You can find contact information for your state senator at http://www.pasen.gov/ or call the OOIDA Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they will look it up for you.