Northwest PA News

Plans to implement tolls on nine bridges in Pennsylvania have been permanently halted following a decision by the state's Commonwealth Court. The court's final order has been met with approval from Rep. Donna Oberlander and Sen. Scott Hutchinson, who have opposed the Department of Transportation’s Pathways Major Bridge P3 Initiative.

Rep. Donna Oberlander expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating, "The court has wisely agreed that its temporary order from earlier last month is the right interpretation of the law." She emphasized that PennDOT lacked authority under current law to impose tolls on these bridges, including those in Clarion and Jefferson counties.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson echoed this sentiment, describing the decision as "truly outstanding news for the residents and businesses of our region and all of Pennsylvania." He criticized the tolling initiative as an illegal effort lacking transparency and legislative approval.

The court found that PennDOT violated the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) law when its P3 Board voted to toll interstate bridges without specifying which ones would be affected. It was not until February 2021 that PennDOT announced a list at the governor's direction. According to Act 88 of 2012, each project must undergo an assessment of scope, framework, impact on citizens, and a cost/benefit analysis before receiving approval.

There remains a possibility for PennDOT to appeal this ruling to the state Supreme Court, which could result in additional taxpayer expenses.

Both Oberlander and Hutchinson agree on the importance of maintaining transportation infrastructure. They suggest that future steps should involve evaluating funding strategies to ensure road safety across Pennsylvania.