Monday, February 24, 2025, 11:44AM |  35°
MENU
Advertisement
Traffic at the intersection of the I-79 bridge over PA Route 50 on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Bridgeville
3
MORE

PennDOT begins process to start tolling 9 bridges to pay for replacement spans

Peter Diana / Post-Gazette

PennDOT begins process to start tolling 9 bridges to pay for replacement spans

In as soon as 2½ years, Pennsylvania motorists could be paying tolls to use nine bridges across the state, including the Interstate 79 bridge over Route 50 in Bridgeville.

The state Department of Transportation announced Thursday the first projects for a new public-private partnership in which private firms will design and replace aging bridges and agree to maintain them for up to 30 years. The state will charge tolls — likely from $1 to $2 — to pay for the work.

The department hasn’t decided whether tolling would begin when it signs contracts to start work or after a project has been completed. It will go through a series of public meetings to discuss the projects and explain any environmental disruptions they could cause.

Advertisement

The effort is part of the state’s attempt to find more resources to pay for transportation projects through its PennDOT Pathways program, which began last fall. The state estimates it should spend about $15 billion a year on transportation projects, but it has only about $6.9 billion available.

Traffic at the intersection of the I-79 bridge over PA Route 50 on Feb. 18, 2021, in Bridgeville.
Ed Blazina
Republicans continue push against tolling nine state bridges

“Our transportation needs are outgrowing our funding,” Transportation Secretary Yassmin Gramian said at a news conference, noting the state maintains 40,000 miles of roads and 25,400 bridges, which are an average of more than 50 years old.

PennDOT identifies candidates for bridge tolling proposal PennDOT announced Thursday it is considering putting tolls on nine bridges, including the double span carrying I-79 over Route 50 near Bridgeville. The tolls will be used to fund replacement or rehabilitation on major bridges.
 
 

Source: PennDOT

Ed Yozwick/Post-Gazette

The department has been highlighting its financial shortcomings for several years, noting that 74% of its funding comes from state or federal gasoline taxes, where revenue hasn’t been growing because of more efficient vehicles. The federal tax hasn’t gone up since 1993, while the price of building materials has gone up 140%.

Additionally, the department estimates it will lose $500 million to $600 million in gas tax receipts for the fiscal yuear ending June 30 as a result of the pandemic, although the stimulus bill approved in December is expected to replace just over $400 million of that.

Charging tolls or fees to build some projects would free funds for others that might not otherwise be possible,  Other fundraising possibilities include charging fees for using busy roads at peak times and for use of newly constructed express lanes with less traffic.

Ken McClain, named last fall as the department’s director of alternate funding, said the state has to do a major educational effort to get the public to accept tolls and fees. He said a recent survey found 52% of motorists had a positive or neutral reaction to the possibility of tolls while 48% were against them.

“Obviously, everybody is going to think about this,” he said. “We do anticipate there will be a percentage of people against it.”

State Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-Bridgeville, quickly became one of them Thursday, issuing a news release blasting the idea. He said he was “stunned” the state would even consider tolls in the midst of a pandemic.

“This bridge is in the fastest growing portion of Allegheny County,” he said. “Tolling it would devastate the economic growth that has begun to take hold.”

District Executive Cheryl Moon-Sirianni said adding an additional lane in each direction on I-79 around the Bridgeville interchange meets the criteria for the tolling effort. The project is in its initial design but would involve adding lanes where the median is now and replacing 14 bridges, ramps and other structures at the interchange.

The interchange, built in 1965, has seen steady traffic growth and now averages about 87,000 vehicles a day, she said, just below the average of about 100,000 a day on the area’s parkways. The plan is to make the interstate three lanes in each direction from Bridgeville to the area north of Southpointe, where the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Southern Beltway project is completing a similar expansion into Washington County.

“This is going to solve a major congestion problem,” Ms. Moon-Sirianni said. “It’s going to be very helpful going forward. This is a very congested and popular area.”

Since the department just started designing that project, it would have to meet a “very aggressive” schedule to be ready for construction in 2023, Ms. Moon-Sirianni said. Work is expected to cost $100 million to $150 million.

The department expects to start a preliminary project this summer to improve entrance and exit ramps where Chartiers Street, Route 50 and the interstate converge.

Other bridges that could be included in the tolling program are: four sets of bridges on Interstate 80 at Canoe Creek in Clarion County, North Fork in Jefferson County, Lehigh River Bridge in Luzerne and Carbon counties, and Nescopeck Creek in Luzerne County; Lenhartsville Bridge on I-78 in Berks County; Susquehanna Bridge on I-81 in Susquehanna County; South Bridge on I-83 in Dauphin County; and Girard Point Bridge in Philadelphia.

Officials said several of the projects could be bundled together for completion by one development group. PennDOT used a similar public-private partnership to have one contractor replace more than 500 small, structurally deficient bridges across the state five years ago and remain responsible for maintenance for 30 years.

The department will begin a series of public meetings across the state next week to explain the potential toll projects and begin federally required environmental reviews.

Ed Blazina: eblazina@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1470 or on Twitter @EdBlazina.

 

First Published: February 18, 2021, 11:54 p.m.

Advertisement
RELATED
Traffic on and underneath the I-79 bridge over PA Route 50 on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Bridgeville.
Ed Blazina
Truckers to fight PennDOT plan to charge bridge tolls in Pa.
Traffic at the intersection of I79 bridge over PA Rt. 50 Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Bridgeville.
Ed Blazina
Financial cliff: Legislators push to handle transportation funding crisis before next year's elections
Traffic streams through the vacant toll booths at the Toll Plaza of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Friday, May 22, 2020, in Monroeville.
Ed Blazina
Pa. Turnpike continues annual 6% toll hike but otherwise weathers pandemic's deep financial hit
SHOW COMMENTS (77)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Protesters gathered at the corner of Murray and Forbes avenues to speak out against the Trump administration's policies on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Squirrel Hill.
1
news
‘We will fight back’: Hundreds rally in Squirrel Hill in opposition of Trump, Musk and president’s administration
This undated photo provided by the Denver Police Department shows Andrew Duarte who served as a Denver police officer from 2017 to 2022.
2
news
Officer killed in York hospital shootout was PennWest California graduate
Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden catches a pass against Ohio State during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.
3
sports
Which positions are strong and weak at NFL combine? And how will Steelers approach this draft?
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
4
sports
Jason Mackey: Why the Andrew Heaney signing makes sense and what it could mean for the Pirates
Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen (2) reacts after a sack against Wake Fores during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
5
sports
Steelers NFL draft big board: Best fits on defensive line
Traffic at the intersection of the I-79 bridge over PA Route 50 on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Bridgeville  (Peter Diana / Post-Gazette)
Traffic at the intersection of the I-79 bridge over PA Route 50 on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Bridgeville  (Peter Diana / Post-Gazette)
Traffic at the intersection of the I-79 bridge over PA Route 50 on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Bridgeville  (Peter Diana / Post-Gazette)
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story