Regarding the letter “Why does the turnpike keep raising tolls?” (Feb. 22, TribLive): Raising tolls is one of the most challenging votes our commissioners make annually, as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission recognizes the demands higher costs place on the 550,000 drivers who rely on our roadway daily. Context provides insight to these decisions.
Act 44 of 2007 is the driver of annual toll increases. This legislation mandated the Pennsylvania Turnpike to fund non-turnpike transportation projects. As a result, we’ve provided more than $8 billion for statewide transportation since 2008. Despite this, we’ve kept our toll rates competitive through consistently controlling operating expenses, managing debt efficiently and implementing innovative ways to generate additional non-toll revenues.
Beyond repaying the debt taken on to fund the mandated Act 44 payments, toll dollars go right back into our roadway. As a limited access highway, the Pennsylvania Turnpike does not receive state funding or tax dollars to maintain and operate our system. Instead, our operating revenue comes from tolls. The commission’s current capital plan alone invests $7 billion over 10 years in reconstruction and modernization of our nearly 85-year-old system.
We will continue to be effective financial stewards of our customers’ toll dollars, while providing Pennsylvania with a safe, reliable, customer-valued roadway for decades to come.
Marissa Orbanek
Middletown The writer is press secretary for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.