Turnpike Commission Updates Public on Construction

Residents of Hampton, West Deer, Indiana and Harmar Townships are invited to an open house to update them on a 200 million dollar reconstruction and widening project for the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Residents will be presented with project plans, bridge replacement information and future detours. Project-team members will also be on hand to present and discuss information about noise analysis and impact to property owners.

Tom Fox, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, says that the road will have an effect on current homeowners in the area. "We've informed residents who's property could be effected by this, inviting them to come and to talk with our property acquisition people if their property might be effected in some way, shape, or form and to give them general information about the studies we'll be conducting."

Fox says that the project is part of a six year 700 million dollar effort to rebuild the turnpike. He says that all of the finds were from the Turnpike and that much of it is toll money going back to the community.

The project will begin with the construction of six bridges over the turnpike and will begin in early 2012. It involves widening the existing roadway from four lanes with a 10 foot median to six lanes with a 26 foot median and constructing new storm-water facilities and wetland and stream mitigation.

The open house is scheduled for March 29th from 6-9 p.m. in the Great Room of the Hampton Township Community Center.

Reduced Speed Limit on Turnpike Lifted

People traveling on an 86 mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike between exit Exit 75 (New Stanton interchange) to Exit 161 (Breezewood Interchange) can now drive at normal speed limits. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has lifted its reduced speed limit for the turnpike as well as a ban on tractor-trailer traffic in all but the right lane.

Wind and drifting snow lead to the restrictions which were implemented to prevent tractor-trailer trucks from rolling over or jack-knifing during wind gusts.

Turnpike Commission Implements Reduced Speed Limit

High winds and drifting snow along the western part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike are leading to hazardous traveling conditions. As a result, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has implemented a reduced speed limit of 45 mph on an 86 mile stretch of the turnpike from Exit 75 (New Stanton interchange) to Exit 161 (Breezewood Interchange).

The Commission has also restricted tractor-trailer traffic to the right lane, which is expected to reduce risk of jack-knifing or rolling over during wind gusts.

Turnpike snow removal teams are plowing and salting in the region, but drifting snow is partially covering parts of the turnpike. If conditions worsen the Commission might implement a ban on empty, box and double tractor-trailers later today.

Turnpike Fares Increase For New Year

In 2011, for the first time since the introduction of electronic E-ZPass transponders, travelers who use the device will pay significantly less than those using only cash. The toll increases 3% for E-ZPass users and 10% for drivers who pay with cash.

“Most of our customers already use E-Zpass, in fact two-thirds of our motorists now pay electronically,” DeFebo says. “It’s much more efficient. It’s safer because there’s no stopping and fewer traffic backlogs through the toll areas.”

In order to remain compliant with Pennsylvania’s Act 44, which requires the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to pay $450 million annually to PennDOT for road maintenance across the state, fares will be raised annually to meet that figure. To this point, the PTC has given $2.5 billion in funding to PennDOT and will continue funding through the remaining 47 years of the agreement. Formerly, the turnpike revenue was reinvested internally, therefore not requiring significant increases.



The Turnpike Commission had also planned to stop printing toll prices on tickets beginning Jan. 1, as a cost-cutting measure. However, after public outcry and a letter of disagreement from Auditor General Jack Wagner, the printed fares will remain. However, until a new batch of tickets can be printed with the higher tolls, the tickets will reflect the old tolls but you still will have to pay the higher amount.

No More Toll Plazas on PA Turnpike?

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has requested proposals for a year-long study of conversion to an all-electronic system--eliminating the 70 existing toll plazas and 600 toll collectors.

Turnpike Commission CEO Joe Brimmeier says electronic tolling is the wave of the future. For vehicles without EZ Pass, cameras would take a picture of the license plate, and the registered owner would receive a bill.

Brimmeier says when the turnpike opened, 3 million cars a year used the turnpike, but now the figure is 190 million. Most toll plazas are landlocked and can't expand to get vehicles through the interchanges faster, which raises issues of safety, emissions and fuel use.

While Brimmeier expects electronic tolling to be cheaper in the long run, he says it will be expensive to implement, and there will still be labor costs for maintaining the equipment.

Brimmeier says the tolling of I-80 would have been all electronic if the federal government had allowed it. It's much more involved to convert a road with toll plazas than to install an electronic system in the first place.

There are already five locations where cars with EZ Pass go through at highway speed. Three exchanges in central PA may go cashless by the end of the year: cars without EZ PASS will insert their turnpike ticket and then a credit card, as in some parking garages.

If the study shows electronic tolling to be feasible, it would propose a timetable for implementation. Brimmeier says many of the toll collector jobs could be eliminated through attrition, but there might also have to be layoffs.

E-ZPass Customers Get Break in Fare Hike

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has approved a new fare schedule for 2011 that increases rates by 10% system wide but holds the increase to 3% for E-ZPass users. A spokesperson for the Commission says the two new rates combine for an overall toll increase of approximately 5% percent, which is expected to generate an estimated $35 million in new revenues. The Commission says almost two-thirds of Pa. Turnpike users pay electronically via E-ZPass. "We believe it's essential to encourage more consumers to get E-ZPass. Besides the enhanced convenience for motorists, it's four times more efficient, processing up to 1,200 vehicles per hour compared to 300 per hour in a cash lane," says PA Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier. Several other states offer similar discounts. The new toll rates take effect Jan. 2, 2011. The Commission has increased its rates three years in a row, but only 8 times in the 70 year history of the Turnpike. Brimmeier says, “We've done our best to streamline operations and become more efficient - especially after the economic downturn that impacted us as it has every other business." For E-ZPass customers, current rates will be multiplied by .03 and then rounded to the nearest penny. Cash rates will be set by multiplying the current rate by .10 and then rounding to the nearest nickel. The Pennsylvania Turnpike manages more than 850,000 active E-ZPass accounts. Toll rates on the Findlay Connector/Toll I-576 (coin machines) near Pittsburgh International Airport will remain at their current level.

Old Turnpike Bridge Demolished

It carried turnpike traffic for more than half a century but it took only a few seconds to reduce the Allegheny River Bridge to scrap metal this morning. Crews used 200 pounds of explosives to take down the structure. Over the last few weeks all of the bridge decking was removed to facilitate clean up. The Turnpike must have the main channel of the Allegheny free of debris by 10:00am Wednesday and the rest of the river must be clear 24 hours later. Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier says crews will take a few weeks to clear the metal from the island under the bridge and the back channel. The old four-lane bridge was built in 1950, just ten years after the turnpike opened. The river is now spanned by a pair of 2,300-foot twin three-lane bridges 150-feet above the water’s surface. One of those bridges is now carrying traffic in both directions and the second bridge will open in November. The project, including the constructions of the bridges, improvements to the highway leading up to the span and demolition of the old bridge is expected to cost $189 million. Brimmeier says he was pleased with the demolition. Traffic on the turnpike was stopped before the explosion and after crews checked the bridge the highway was reopened around 10:30.

Some Mon-Fayette Expressway Work Stopped

Inadequate funding has halted the development of some parts of the Mon-Fayette Expressway around Pittsburgh.

Since January, construction has been frozen on two roadways linking Jefferson Hills to the Parkway East and I-79. Another segment connecting I-79 to Route 22 west of the city is on hold as well.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission spokesman Tom Fox says the Turnpike needs about $5 billion to continue the work, after attempts to forge a public-private partnership with investors never materialized.

He says one aim of the toll road was to alleviate Parkway East congestion.

“We could take a great deal of traffic, especially commercial traffic, off of that Parkway if we had the Southern Beltway built, and the portion of the Mon-Fayette from Monroeville down to Jefferson Hills,” says Fox.

Fox says some Mon-Fayette construction will continue. He says West Virginia’s I-68 will connect to the Pennsylvania border by this fall, while a roadway from Uniontown to Brownsville will be finished by spring of 2012.

Fox says the Turnpike has all the clearances and permits it needs to continue once more money is found.

I-80 Tolling Decision Could Come Soon

A northern Pennsylvania Congressman says he expects the U.S. Department of Transportation to make a decision on I-80 tolling any day now.
Republican Glenn Thompson and other Pennsylvania lawmakers sat down with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood earlier this week in Washington, and Thompson says he got the impression the federal government will decide whether to accept or reject Pennsylvania’s tolling application in the coming days.

"The Secretary very specifically said they could be making the decision soon. I’m not sure what soon means, but my inclination is this is a decision that will be made in an imminent fashion. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear something as soon as the end of this week."
Thompson says he told LaHood his concerns about the tolling initiative.

"We talked about the negative economic impact, not just along the I-80 corridor, but frankly for Pennsylvania. Where reroutes commerce around Pennsylvania – just would add insult to injury with our economy around the state."

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission resubmitted its application about three months ago. Spokesman Carl DeFebo says tolling is scheduled to begin in November 2011, but the timeframe could be sped up after a final decision is made.

Turnpike Tolls to Increase Slightly

The Pennsylvania Turnpike will hike tolls by 3% January 3, as part of a scheduled increase meant to combat inflation.

Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo says the most common toll of $0.95 will increase by a nickel for cash-paying customers, because the Turnpike doesn’t accept pennies.

DeFebo says the same toll for an E-ZPass driver will increase to 98 cents exactly, because the transaction is done electronically.

The Turnpike plans to implement 3% increases annually after upping fares 25% last year. The revenue will be used to fund road construction and mass transit projects, as mandated by Act 44 of 2007.

DeFebo says before electronic toll payments, larger fare increases were done about every decade to avoid reprinting Turnpike tickets each year. He says the smaller, incremental hikes are easier to manage now that most customers use the E-ZPass system.

Legislation Would Eliminate Turnpike Commission

State Representative Mike Vereb has introduced legislation to the House of Representatives that would eliminate the Turnpike Commission and turn its operational responsibilities over to PennDot. Vereb says the Turnpike Commission is corrupt and cannot be trusted because of its past mishandling of money and contracts. Allen Biehler, head of the Turnpike Commission also is the Secretary of PennDot. Biehler says the commission has changed it process for hiring in order to maximize competition among service providers.

PA Turnpike Braces for Thanksgiving

The Pennsylvania Turnpike will make adjustments to construction and patrol schedules to accomodate Thanksgiving traffic this week. Most road work and construction will be suspended to allow for maximum traffic flow, while State Police will be on the watch for aggressive and drunk driving.

Spokesperson Carl DeFebo says commuters can call the turnpike's special emergency number, *11, instead of 911 to report emergencies.

DeFebo says traffic will be busiest from about 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, and again from noon to 8:00 p.m. Sunday.

He says motorists wishing to relax during a long drive can stop at the Allentown or Sideling Hill Service Plazas for "Take a Break" activities. He says these activities will showcase the Turnpike's response crews and will give commuters a chance to sign up for EZ-Pass and Missing Child Services.

Warrendale EZ Pass to Reopen

EZ Pass users who pass through the Warrendale Toll plaza no longer have to slow down. The Turnpike Commission is reopening the high-speed EZ Pass lanes after a 6-week refurbishing project. The lanes re-open at 5am Thursday. During the work drivers had to use the cash lanes which force EZ Pass users to slow to 5 MPH. The commission chose to close the lanes as part of a larger reconstruction project in the area that included new pavement and better drainage.

New I-80 Tolling Proposal

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has submitted what it hopes is the final batch of materials to support its application with the Federal Highway Administration to convert Interstate 80 to a toll road.
Act 44, which was signed into law in July 2007, directed PennDOT to lease Interstate 80 to the Turnpike Commission giving the commission oversight of that interstate as a toll road. The Commission then sought approval of tolling I-80 from the Highway Administration which rejected the application in September 2008 due to concerns over how the lease payments compared with other private public partnerships involving major highways.
Commission spokesman Carl DeFebo says they commissioned an independent analysis that reviewed other roadway leases in the U.S. and Canada over the last 10 years and the study concluded that the lease payments that the Turnpike Commission is making to PennDOT are "within the market ranges" compared to recent North American highway leases.
The commission has made quarterly payments to PennDOT over the past two years totalling $2 billion dollars. This comes from the toll increase on the turnpike.
DeFebo says if they get approval to toll I-80, those payments would grow to an average of $1.67 billion annually.
DeFebo says under the proposal $250 million a year for 10 years would be invested in I-80 improvements, four time the current amount of $60 million spent on the interstate annually. DeFebo says kind of spending would help the economy along the interstate corridor.
The spokesman says they've taken steps to address the impact of tolls on residents along the interstate who "use it like a Main Street" coming and going to work and shop. He says if they sign up for EZ Pass, they could drive through the first tolling site for no charge...."so in essence you could drive 50 miles and even more without paying a toll."
DeFebo says they don't expect an answer on their proposal for several months.

Tolling I-80 Fight Might be Back

Despite being turned down the first time, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission plans to reapply for approval to toll Interstate 80. Last September, the Federal Highway Administration denied a request to convert I-80 into a toll road, noting proceeds could not be used to fund improvements on other highways as had been proposed by the governor. Officials from the Turnpike Commission and PennDOT recently met with their federal counterparts to talk about a new plan. Commission spokesman Bill Capone says one of the main issues discussed in that session was the fair market value of I-80. He says, “They wanted to see more supportive information in terms of the way those rental payments...how they were arrived at in terms of is it the appropriate amount of rent for leasing I-80 from PennDOT." Capone says the commission is working to satisfy that and other concerns, and plans to resubmit its tolling application – perhaps within months. Opponents of tolling I-80 say it would hurt local economies and put a strain on other roads. They insist there are better options for raising cash for construction projects.

Alternative to Allegheny Tunnel Explored

After ten years on the back burner, thoughts of changing how turnpike traffic gets from one side of the Allegheny Mountain to the other is once again being seriously considered. In 1992 The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission launched a study of the problem and in 2000 it decided the best option was to build a cut to the north of the existing tunnel. That plan met strong opposition and was tabled. Turnpike Spokesperson Carl DeFebo says the Commission recently completed a traffic study and found that by 2015 about 13.3 million vehicles will pass though the Allegheny Tunnel each year and that is not acceptable. In 2008 11.3 million vehicles used the tunnel and the number is projected to jump up to 14.9 million in 2025 and 16.6 million in 2035. DeFebo says all options will be considered including a by-pass cut, a new tunnel and a widening of the current tunnel. He says now is the time to begin the process because it will take two years to explore the options and another 4-6 years to draw up final designs.

GOP Lawmakers to Fight New Bid to Toll I-80

Pennsylvania House Republicans along the Interstate 80 corridor say they will fight the Rendell Administration's renewed effort to toll I-80. PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler, who was also recently named as chairman of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, told a House Democratic Policy Committee that PennDOT and the commission plan to submit a revised application for the toll proposal to the federal government later this year. State Representative Scott Hutchinson of Venango County says the I-80 Republicans are unified against this plan which he says would devastate rural northwestern Pennsylvania and transfer money to urban areas...."So we are renewing our fight to stop the tolling plan on Interstate 80, including chopping the Turnpike Commission down to size and maybe eliminating it altogether. I think they have a poor track record, a patronage history and a history of corruption we should end."
Hutchinson says tolling the interstate would hinder the state's economic recovery.

Rendell Dismisses Turnpike Chair

Governor Ed Rendell has nominated a Philadelphia lawyer to replace the fired Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Chairman Mitchell Rubin. Michael Pratt, a native of Fayette County, is a partner in the Pepper Hamilton law firm. He served as a deputy city solicitor for Philadelphia. Pratt's nomination needs approval from the state Senate. The governor fired Rubin yesterday for allegations that emerged during former state Senator Vince Fumo's corruption trial.
In a letter made public by the Rendell Administration, the governor told Rubin the decision has a lot to do with the jury's "guilty" verdict on charges that Rubin's company never did any work on a 150-thousand dollar state contract.
Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo says the governor spent the weekend reviewing court transcripts and consulting with legal advisers.

"They determined between those two that it was both prudent and legal to remove Mitch Rubin from the Turnpike Commission."

Republican State Senator Rob Wonderling, who chairs the Transportation Committee, says Rendell made the right decision.
He expects a new Commissioner will be named soon.

"I believe it's imminent. I spoke to the governor's office this morning, and I think a name will be forthcoming very shortly."

Wonderling says he'll work with the Administration to plan confirmation hearings for the new nominee.
Last week a federal jury convicted Fumo on all 137 counts and convicted Rubin's wife, Ruth Arnao, a longtime Fumo aide, of all 45 counts against her.

I-80 Could Have Cashless Toll System

The Turnpike Commission wishes to use an all electronic system for I-80 instead of imitating the Turnpike's ticket and cash system. Gentries will be placed in nine locations through the state; those locations are to be selected this fall.

Project Manager Barry Schoch says the cashless system will be the future of toll collection. He says short-distance drivers are encouraged to use an E-Z Pass Incentive program, and long-distance travelers will be targeted. The incentive program will be offered to drivers who wish to waive a tolling fee. Schoch says E-Z Pass is the most inexpensive way to travel on I-80, because most drivers only use the route for a short distance. He estimates that 70 percent of local E-Z Pass users will never be tolled.

The Federal Government must approve for the Commission to toll I-80.

Turnpike Project On Time And On Budget

The Allegheny River Bridge Replacement Project is on time and on budget. Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier says the twin bridges will be done on time in the summer of 2010. The twin bridges will be replacing a steel truss bridge that currently carries the turnpike traffic across the Allegheny river. The twin bridges will each have three lanes of traffic and are a part of a total reconstruction of the turnpike. The bridges are a $190 million project. The two bridges will make routine maintenance easier because if a bridge needs work it can be closed down and traffic can be transferred to the other bridge.