PennDOT is continuing to move forward with its proposal to toll nine interstate bridges through its Major Bridge P3 Initiative despite pushback in local communities, the state legislature, and the courts.

Though they haven’t specified the exact toll for trucks crossing these bridges (or even how they plan to define “truck”), it's anticipated that a toll on a single bridge will add $5000 per year to the cost of each truck crossing twice a day.

PMTA has fought the bridge tolling initiative ever since it was first proposed in late 2020, arguing that the disproportionate impact on the trucks will hurt the trucking industry, local businesses, and Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness (see details of PMTA’s activities ).

Over the past few months, several events have occurred on which PMTA wishes to update its members.

• On November 16, the state House of Representatives voted to approve Sen. Langerholc’s SB 382, which requires public-private partnerships to through a more thorough public deliberation, including approval by the legislature when there are tolls involved. (See how your representative voted.) SB 382 already passed the state Senate, but because it was amended in the House, it must be approved by the Senate again. It has not yet been brought up for a vote. There's still time to contact your senator.
•  On February 15, PMTA filed an amicus brief in the lawsuit South Fayette Township et. al v. PennDOT, a challenge by several municipalities near the I-79 Bridgeville bridge arguing that PennDOT did not follow the requirements of the law in its P3 process. An oral argument has been scheduled in the case on May 18 before a panel of Commonwealth Court judges. In the meantime, a similar case has been filed by a group of county and municipal officials in Cumberland County.
• On March 9, PennDOT announced that Bridging Pennsylvania Partners (BPP) was selected as the Apparent Best Value Proposer to administer the bridge tolling projects.
•  Also in March, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) said it will require PennDOT to through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for each bridge it is considering tolling. The NEPA process evaluates the environmental and related social and economic effects of proposed action and, importantly, includes citizen involvement. As a result, for each bridge project, PennDOT is scheduling a public comment period and an in-person public meeting, at which members of the public are invited to testify.

PMTA strongly encourages its members to take part in this public comment process. Now is the time to convey the impact of bridge tolling on your business, on Pennsylvania’s trucking industry, and on economy! You may do so in one of three ways:

• Provide in-person testimony at a public hearing.
• Submit comments on proposed tolling project(s) at the email address provided.
• Mail comments to the address provided.

Please see the below list of bridge projects, along with public meetings scheduled, comment periods, and other information. Click on the project name link to see the project information page.

It is very important during this process to state clearly the impact you believe tolling these bridges at an estimated $10-12 per crossing will have on your business. Please state the cost increases you will be forced to deal with, how this will affect your competitiveness with other companies, and how you think tolling will affect your local community. Specific comments are always more effective than general comments.

If you’d like some ideas about how to frame your comments or testimony please see the information on PMTA’s website, including several previous testimonies provided by the association. You may also contact PMTA for assistance.

PennDOT Major Bridge P3 Initiative Proposed Bridges to Be Tolled – Public Comment

5/10/22