Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Hike Goes Into Effect
WFMZ-TV.com ^ | 1/4/09 | Jackie Shutack,

Posted on 01/04/2009 8:15:34 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta

People who use the Pennsylvania Turnpike will now have to shell out more cash for that privilege.

The toll fee for all drivers went up by 25 percent on Sunday, part of a plan that has been a long time in the making.

WFMZ's Jackie Shutack talked to drivers whose ire was raised, along with those tolls.

George Moyer/pittston: (gasps) "6 bucks -- it used to be to go down to Philly, now it's 8, that's ridiculous!"

Luke witts, jr.:quakertown: "It's going to be tough."

Ira goosay/scranton: "I thought the rate they had was pretty high."

Greg strus/quakertown: "We just went to visit my mom in Wilkes Barre - we paid $3.25 coming up, now we're paying $4.10 coming back, it's ridiculous."

Reporter: PennDOT officials explain the toll increase will help pay for repair projects.

Carl defebo/PennDOT: "90% of the monies from this increase, will be used by PennDOT to finance off turnpike road and bridge projects as well as mass transit operations across Pennsylvania."

Reporter: From exit to exit, passenger vehicle drivers will now pay 95 cents instead of 75 cents. Many drivers are now plotting alternate routes in order to avoid shelling out the extra cash.

"I've figured out ways around the turnpike---- to get down to Philly, there aren't too many ways around the turnpike."

Alice jones/maryland: "Probably not use the turnpike as much."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: taxincrease
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: MarineBrat

“... promised that the toll was only temporary, until the road was paid for.”

I was just going to bring this up but I cannot find a link to support this claim. My dad said this was the case though.


41 posted on 01/04/2009 10:11:07 PM PST by edh (I need a better tagline)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: edh

I was listening to Bob Durgin’s show on WHP580 one day a few months ago and either he or a guest host mentioned casually that the state legislators got their wives jobs on the state lottery commission and for their mistresses spots on the turnpike commission. A transcript of that show would likely add a lot of context to this thread.


42 posted on 01/04/2009 10:42:09 PM PST by jz638
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: MadelineZapeezda

Where is the road cut in your photo?


43 posted on 01/04/2009 11:09:28 PM PST by Sicvee (Sicvee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Scarpetta
"...Carl defebo/PennDOT: "90% of the monies from this increase, will be used by PennDOT to finance off turnpike road and bridge projects as well as mass transit operations across Pennsylvania..."

The remaining 10% will go.....??? Straight into the coffers of the state Democratic Party?

44 posted on 01/04/2009 11:11:05 PM PST by conservativeharleyguy (Democrats: Over 60 million fooled daily!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: edh
I was just going to bring this up but I cannot find a link to support this claim. My dad said this was the case though.

My mom was born in Pittsburgh in the 1920's, and I honestly couldn't tell you when the turnpike actually opened, but that's what she told me.

The thought of today's government keeping their word on such a thing is a joke.

45 posted on 01/04/2009 11:18:25 PM PST by MarineBrat (The New York Times is a Communist Kamikaze.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Scarpetta

My amazing psychic powers tell me that there will be griping about it for a few weeks, and then The Sheep will pay it and accept it as part of life in Socialist Amerika.

Because that’s what The Sheep want. And that’s what The Sheep do.


46 posted on 01/04/2009 11:19:23 PM PST by Old Sarge (For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be an American)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Doctor Raoul; Sisku Hanne; Tribune7; Kid Shelleen; zoomie81; pasquale; airborne; Antoninus; ...

Ping!


47 posted on 01/04/2009 11:21:10 PM PST by Albion Wilde ("Praise and worship" is my alternate lifestyle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Scarpetta

“I’ve figured out ways around the turnpike—— to get down to Philly, there aren’t too many ways around the turnpike.”

I hate to tell these a**holes the PA turnpike doesn’t go to Philly.

I have no clue where they think they are, but a good guess would be they are the clueless a**hole in front of me blocking the road.

The PA turnpike is also the oldest “interstate” type highway in the US. They figured out after building the pike that curves should be laid out on a circle and not follow the lay of the land, a bigger problem in the western section of the pike.


48 posted on 01/04/2009 11:39:54 PM PST by Eagles2003
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PennsylvaniaMom
We drive often to North Georgia and I hate riding through West Virginia...take a stack of quarters, they quarter you crazy in that state and the roads are nasty...

Son lives in York, PA. I live in Somerset, PA. toll on PA. pike was $7.75 now almost $10.00 one way...so I have been taking Rt. 31 and 30 a beautiful drive, but curvy, in any season...just drove it today and very little traffic and I enjoy the change from montinous turnpikes...

they have seen the last of my $$$ on the Fast Eddie Speedway...

49 posted on 01/05/2009 12:14:05 AM PST by haircutter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: MarineBrat

Many years ago I read a newspaper account of the political origins of the Turnpike Commision.

You know how long term memory behaves after the mid-term so don’t take this to the bank, but...

After a study proved it was possible the road once planned as a state project turned into a quasi-state project when politically connected movers and shakers at the judge level and above saw it’s potential.

They did kick in money back then but once it was set up the operating expenses were passed on to the taxpayers. I believe the State Police force was enlarged so they could police the Turnpike.

The original investing family’s started receiving non-stop dividends almost immediately. I can’t say they are still receiving the money but what the heck, it’s Pennsylvania. Some things are just taken for granted.

And yes, the promise was that once the cost was paid off the toll booths would come down.


50 posted on 01/05/2009 1:20:24 AM PST by MurrietaMadman (...It is the Right of the People ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Scarpetta
I'm all for toll roads to pay for maintenance, but a 25% increase, all at once is pretty ridiculous. And something that I really didn't care for is the admission that 90% of the increases will be used for "off-turnpike" repairs...

Glad I don't live in PA.

Mark

51 posted on 01/05/2009 3:04:11 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Scarpetta

The memory is fading, but I could swear that there was a time long ago when there was no construction anywhere on the eastern end of the turnpike (King of P. to NJ). I doubt I will ever live to see that day again.


52 posted on 01/05/2009 3:29:17 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Hey, Obama! Where's my check?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Scarpetta

Angry boycotters = more room for me. I average 75-80 mph on the parts I travel. I’ll gladly pay a little extra to get rid of the riffraff.


53 posted on 01/05/2009 3:43:56 AM PST by Born to Conserve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Here you are: Pittsburg to Philly with nary a toll dollar:

It's called shunpiking.

But here's the tradeoff. This route: 298 miles, 8:44 driving time. Paythroughthenosepike: 306 miles, 6:03 driving time.

54 posted on 01/05/2009 4:41:34 AM PST by upchuck (Get ready for 2009: Pray; Raise/conserve cash; Pay your debts; Pray; Stockpile; Buy ammo; Pray)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cheetahcat
You need a bag of money they have toll booth's all over West Pa the Turnpike is a Joke. the rest stops look a hundred years old ,No money is spent on up keep.

I had to go in the reststop to get something to eat last week, and I'm not doing it again. If you have to go on the turnpike, it's better to take your own sandwiches.

55 posted on 01/05/2009 4:51:10 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: MarineBrat
My mother once told me about when the PA turnpike first opened. People were peeved about paying a toll, but the government promised that the toll was only temporary, until the road was paid for.

They said that about some of the toll bridges too.

56 posted on 01/05/2009 4:53:15 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Old Sarge
there will be griping about it for a few weeks, and then The Sheep will pay it and accept it as part of life in Socialist Amerika.

You're probably right.

57 posted on 01/05/2009 4:55:07 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Eagles2003
I hate to tell these a**holes the PA turnpike doesn’t go to Philly.

Where I live north of Allentown, we do take the turnpike (Northeast Extension) to get to the dreaded Schuylkill Expressway and eventually Phila.

58 posted on 01/05/2009 4:59:54 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: PennsylvaniaMom

Yep. Downingtown to Morgantown — 13 miles — is now 95 cents for me. Jerks.


59 posted on 01/05/2009 8:21:38 AM PST by Malacoda (CO(NH2)2 on OBAMA.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar

Don’t bet on it.

76 is the main east west Interstate in PA.. 80 is the other and its free, but 80 is further north and kept in very poor condition.

The legislature modified the Turnpike revenues, with this raise funds raised are no longer expressly for the turnpike, but now are to fund infrastructure projects throughout the state.

They raised the rates very significantly a few years back, traffic didn’t move. Its a captive route, that nails more travelers than pennsylvanians, so they know they can get away with the rate hikes at will for the most part. Oh and the other thing is, now they won’t have to wait years between bills authorizing hikes, the last bill granted automatic hikes annually up to 3%.


60 posted on 01/05/2009 8:26:33 AM PST by HamiltonJay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson