HARRISBURG – Legislation halting the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) from imposing new tolls on nine interstate bridges throughout the state was passed today by the Senate, according to Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49).
Senate Bill 382 reaffirms a Commonwealth Court decision that invalidated the authority PennDOT improperly assumed to enact tolling and will prevent future administrations from appealing the ruling.
The measure reforms the Public-Private Transportation Partnership statute and voids PennDOT’s overreaching plan, providing more transparency and maintaining checks and balances. If implemented, the bridge tolling initiative would have cost the average commuter an additional $1,000 per year – a de facto tax that was moved through the process without legislative input or approval.
This bill halts PennDOT’s tolling of the following bridges:
- I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge Replacement Project in Berks County.
- I-79 Widening, Bridges and Bridgeville Interchange Reconfiguration in Allegheny County.
- I-80 Canoe Creek Bridges in Clarion County.
- I-80 Nescopeck Creek Bridges in Luzerne County.
- I-80 North Fork Bridges Project in Jefferson County.
- I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project in Luzerne and Carbon counties.
- I-81 Susquehanna Project in Susquehanna County.
- I-83 South Bridge Project in Dauphin County.
- I-95 Girard Point Improvement Bridge Project in Philadelphia County.
Contact: David Kozak dkozak@pasen.gov