U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) opposes the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) Major Bridge Public-Private Initiative. The project would establish tolls along nine bridges statewide, including the Canoe Creek Bridges in Thompson’s congressional district.
Thompson recently submitted public comments to PennDOT voicing his opposition.
“While there is no doubt Pennsylvania requires a reliable funding mechanism to maintain and replace existing infrastructure, the commonwealth collected nearly $3 billion in revenue in October 2021,” Thompson said in a letter. “That is 6 percent higher than anticipated, which leaves a $788.2 million budget surplus. Pennsylvania is expected to receive more than $18 billion from the recent federal infrastructure package, including $1.6 billion for bridge replacements. PennDOT should exhaust all funding avenues before placing an additional tax on the traveling public.”
In a survey sent to 12,000 of Thompson’s constituents, 90 percent oppose tolling. Polling was also opposed when PennDOT sought public input on alternative funding options in November 2020.
Thompson said he worried PennDOT had already concluded that tolls are necessary despite having failed to conduct the studies needed to make a decision on a policy change.
Thompson also said he hoped PennDOT would reconsider and provide residents with commonsense alternatives for fixing aging infrastructure.