TOLLS * USA - Highway groups charge ahead against I-80 tolls

OOIDA and the coalition members oppose the diversion of highway funds for other uses

Washington,DC,USA -Land Line Magazine, by David Tanner -Jan. 12, 2010: -- OOIDA and other highway groups making up the Americans for a Strong National Highway Network are urging U.S. Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, to deny Pennsylvania the right to convert Interstate 80 into a toll road... The coalition sent a letter to LaHood, and takes Pennsylvania to task on statements made about the condition of I-80 and the state’s reasons for applying for tolling authority under a federal pilot program... Quoting directly from PennDOT’s own study in 2005, the coalition points out that I-80 is in good condition and does not need to be rebuilt using tolls... PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are hoping to toll I-80 to make the highway self-sustaining and free up federal funds to pay for other transportation programs including mass transit... The Americans for a Strong National Highway Network include OOIDA, the American Highway Users Alliance, American Trucking Associations and Natso – the national association of truck stop and travel plaza owners...