Local officials respond

LOCK HAVEN - Clinton County officials say they believe the latest proposal from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to allow most local commuters to avoid tolls on Interstate 80 is just another "carrot" from the commission and remain steadfast in their opposition to the proposal.

"As far as the Partnership is concerned, we are against the tolls 100 percent," said Clinton County Economic Partnership President and CEO Mike Flanagan Wednesday afternoon.

He was responding to the latest plan from the commission to allow commuters to go through one automated toll gantry free of charge each trip. This, officials said, would allow 70 percent of local commuters to be unaffected by the tolls.

Commission officials recently wrapped up meetings with representatives from counties along the I-80 corridor, project manager Barry Schoch said during a press conference Wednesday morning, and most were encouraged by the latest plan.

However, Flanagan said Wednesday, nobody from the Partnership met with turnpike officials, and the economic development organization remains against I-80 tolling.

"There are carrots being laid out there with the E-ZPasses (for the automated toll booths) and 'We'll get an interchange for you,'" Flanagan said, referring to the plan by the commission to use $249 million of the funding from tolls to complete the intersection between I-99 and I-80 near State College. "I know there are a lot of things being floated out there to try to appease the situation.

"Tolling Interstate 80 will have a devastating impact on our economy, both for the businesses here and attracting businesses," he said.

There has been legislation proposed to help businesses affected by the tolling by offering them business tax breaks. However, Flanagan isn't sure if that would help, especially considering First Quality Enterprises, the county's largest employer, estimates the tolling would cost its business at least $2 million annually, just for outgoing freight.

"That's a nice piece of change. I'm not sure how tax breaks would help that," he said.

Flanagan noted the Partnership continues to be a part of The Alliance to Stop I-80 Tolling, a statewide effort by chambers of commerce, businesses and concerned citizens working together to stop plans to toll I-80, lead by chambers of commerce in Bloomsburg and Williamsport.

The alliance, he said, has recently hired Quantum Communications out of Harrisburg as its consultant and lobbyist in both Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.

"We are raising money for them to be our voice to show this is going to be a major impact (to our economy) if this follows through," Flanagan said, noting the Partnership has raised some funds from local businesses to pay Quantum.

Flanagan said he can't predict whether I-80 will eventually be tolled, noting it's gone "back and fourth" since Act 44 was passed last year authorizing the tolling. It still needs to be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation because it is an interstate highway.

He continued to urge local residents against the tolling to let their legislators know.

"If we don't want it here, we need to let our legislators know and support the Alliance (to Stop I-80 Tolling) to show we are against it and we won't fall for any E-ZPass or anything like that," Flanagan said.

Commissioner Tom Bossert agreed, saying he remains "still very much opposed" to the tolling of I-80, even with the latest proposal to reduce the toll impact on local residents.

He said his concern is many of the travellers will use Route 150 to get around the proposed tolling stations.

"We're going to have traffic that is unbearable," he said. "That road is not designed for any type of the traffic like this."

The worst part, Bossert said, may be at the Lusk Run interchange, leading to Central Mountain High School.

"The implications to that interchange would be dire," he said. "We'll need to put a body bag repository right there at that light. It would be absolutely devastating."

Bossert added tolling I-80 would also be detrimental to the new Lamar Township Business Park, located near the Lock Haven exit of I-80.