June 20, 2008 - Heads up: Pennsylvania truckers! The state’s House Transportation Committee has scheduled a two-day hearing on Thursday and Friday, June 26-27, to discuss a bill that would authorize the governor to lease the Turnpike to private investors. Only invited speakers are expected to testify at the public hearing so please take time now to submit comments by mail and/or fax.

Sponsored by Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, and Rep. Steven Cappelli, R-Lycoming, the bill – HB2593 – was unveiled shortly after Gov. Ed Rendell announced in mid-May that a Spanish-American consortium had bid $12.8 billion to run the Turnpike for 75 years in exchange for keeping the tolls. The lease would require the money to be spent on highways, bridges and mass transit.

The bill includes a provision to repeal part of Act 44, the state law enacted a year ago that calls for Interstate 80 to be converted into a toll road. In addition, tolls on the Turnpike are slated to increase by 25 percent in 2009 and increase by 3 percent each year thereafter.

Evans said the bill is intended to start the dialogue on tolls. State officials should hear from the trucking industry on this important issue.

The House Transportation Committee has scheduled the public hearing to begin at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, June 26, in Room 140 in the Main Capitol building in Harrisburg. The meeting is expected to wrap up at 11:00 a.m.

Testimony at the hearing will be accepted via mail and fax. Written comments are due to the committee by the time the hearing convenes on Thursday. Comments should specifically mention HB2593. For additional information, call House Transportation Committee Chairman Joseph Markosek’s office at (717) 783-1012.

Mail and fax comments to:

            Rep. Joseph F. Markosek
            314 Irvis Office Building
            PO Box 202025
            Harrisburg, PA 17120-2025
           
            Fax: (717) 705-1891

You should also send your remarks to your state representative and state senator. For contact information, click here. Submit your information in the box titled “Find Members By” located in the upper right hand corner of the Web page.