Issues

The Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce has taken action in opposition to the establishment of tolls on Interstate 80. The Board of Directors passed 2 resolutions to that end, and will use this page to provide updates as needed. This page will be revised regularly, or you can call the Chamber office for more information.

A sample letter that we are encouraging folks to write is printed below. Also, we have reprinted the information that was given to the press on October 22, 2007.

The Clarion Chamber of Commerce has been leading the charge for the opposition to the tolling of I-80. A "summit" was held in late November. You are urged to contact Mary Peters, US Secretary of Transportation, at the address below. This battle can be won if enough people take the time to make their views known! A sample letter is printed below, but you are encouraged to use your own words and circumstances in your letter.

We also have stickers and petitions here at the Chamber that you may pick up, or call and we'll send you some.

Suggested letter to Transportation Secretary Mary Peters. Please use your own personal thoughts and information.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is seeking federal approval to add tolls toInterstate 80. I am writing you to ask you to reject this request. The decision to toll Interstate 80 was made in haste by a slim majority, without a single public hearing or any other opportunity for those most affected by this change to comment.

Interstate 80 is part of the Federal Highway System, already paid for with federalfunds and intended to be a free system of transportation to help promoteinterstate commerce. Adding tolls to Interstate 80 will make both ofPennsylvania’s major east-west highways toll roads, diminishing itscompetitiveness in the national and global marketplaces.

It also will divert heavytraffic from the interstate highway to secondary roadways, accelerating wear,increasing local maintenance costs and decreasing safety. The trucking industry already pays dearly to travel on our nation’s roadwaysthrough fuels taxes, license plates and other fees. Tolling Interstate 80 will onlyadd to this burden.

The fortunate ones will simply pass those costs along toconsumers. The unfortunate ones will be unable to do so, and will be put out ofbusiness altogether. In light of all this, it is no surprise that a 2005 study performed by thePennsylvania Department of Transportation recommended the Commonwealth not pursue adding tolls to Interstate 80.

Because none of the stakeholders were given an opportunity to comment on how detrimental the addition of tolls would be their operations, and because the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation itself concluded tolling Interstate 80 was a bad idea, I ask you to reject the Turnpike Commission’s request.

OBVIOUSLY THE TOLLING OF INTERSTATE 80 DOES NOT AFFECT THE TITUSVILLE AREA TO THE SAME DEGREE AS IT DOES OUR NEIGHBORS IN CLARION OR DUBOIS. HOWEVER, WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT IT WILL HAVE A NET NEGATIVE EFFECT TO OUR AREA AND COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO THE TOLLING OF OTHER ROADWAYS, SPECIFICALLY I-90.

SOME MAY ARGUE THAT IT’S IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO ENDORSE ANY PLAN TO ADEQUATELY FUND THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES. WE AGREE, AND WOULD ADD THAT IT’S EVEN MORE IRRESPONSIBLE TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT WHILE TAKING DOLLARS MEANT FOR SUCH PROJECTS FROM MOTOR FUELS FUNDS AND USING IT FOR OTHER PURPOSES. IT IS REALLY HARD TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA THAT WE ARE UNDERTAXED!

THE CHAMBER BOARD BEGAN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE TOLLING PROPOSAL IN AUGUST, CONTINUED IN SEPTEMBER, AND FINALLY MADE A RECOMMENDATION IN OCTOBER BY PASSING 2 RESOLUTIONS.

THE FIRST URGES THE PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO REPEAL THE PORTION OF ACT 44 THAT ALLOWS FOR THE PLACING OF TOLLS ON INTERSTATE 80, WHILE THE SECOND URGES THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO DENY ANY REQUEST TO ALLOW THE PLACING OF TOLLS ON INTERSTATE 80.

YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR MORE SUBSTANCE ON ISSUES COMING FROM THE TITUSVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MUCH MORE!

THIS CHAMBER IS ORGANIZED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVANCING THE COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, CIVIC AND GENERAL INTERESTS OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE AND ITS TRADE AREA.

IF WE ARE TO SUCCEED IN OUR MISSION, WE MUST BE RELEVANT. AND TO BE RELEVANT WE NEED TO TAKE STANDS ON ISSUES WE DEEM IMPORTANT TO THE TITUSVILLE AREA.

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Act 44 which includes a provision for the tolling of Interstate 80; and

WHEREAS, there was no opportunity for public comment on the tolling proposal before passage; and

WHEREAS, Act 44 was passed by the General Assembly in the waning hours of the session when the legislators were under pressure to pass the budget; and

WHEREAS, a 2005 study commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation concluded that the tolling of I-80 should not be pursued; and

WHEREAS, establishing such tolls would cause major economic hardship to many businesses and communities in Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, approval of the tolling measure could lead to such proposals on other roadways in Pennsylvania and other states;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce urges the Pennsylvania General Assembly to repeal the portion of Act 44 that allows for the placing of tolls on Interstate 80.

Adopted by the Board of Directors of the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce at its regularly scheduled meeting in Titusville, PA on October 15, 2007.