Decision to keep Interstate 80 free splits business leaders

The Federal Highway Administration has rejected Pennsylvania’s application to place tolls Interstate 80 — leaving a 450-million dollar gap in next year’s transportation budget.

The Federal Highway Administration has rejected Pennsylvania’s application to place tolls Interstate 80 — leaving a 450-million dollar gap in next year’s transportation budget.

Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce C.E.O. Rob Wonderling says he’s very disappointed the I-80 toll proposal was rejected. He says tolling I-80 is integral to improving public safety and enhacing mobility across the state.

“Having a sound and viable infrastructure is one of the building blocks to a modern economy and to a region that now competes globally for enterprises to remain here, to expand here, or to come here,” he said. “If we don’t solve our mobility problems in this region over time it will have a negative impact on our ability to market this region to companies from around the world to come and locate here.”

Pennsylvania residents in other parts of the state have spoken out against the propsed tolls: citing concerns the tolls would hurt businesses along the I-80 corridor.