DEMOCRATIC LEADERS CRITICIZE FEDS' I-80 DECISION HARRISBURG -- April 6, 2010 – Senate Democratic Leaders tonight criticized a federal decision denying Pennsylvania permission to toll Interstate 80, calling it shortsighted and harmful to the goals of the federal stimulus bill. “This decision puts at risk the modest gains brought by the federal stimulus effort,” said Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow. “The hole created in Pennsylvania’s transportation budget will cost jobs, stall important infrastructure improvements, and isolate thousands of Pennsylvanians from employment opportunities.” Senate Democrats supported Act 44, which made Interstate 80 a northern-tier toll road to complement the southern-tier Pennsylvania Turnpike as a major transportation route and generator of revenue to benefit all communities in Pennsylvania. “Act 44 was a sound plan, a fair plan, and a forward thinking plan,” said Sen. Jay Costa, the Democratic Appropriations chairman from Allegheny County. “We’ve been told by the federal government to think of new ways to create investment in infrastructure and that’s what we did. It’s disappointing.” Costa noted that a federal renewal of the Intermodel Surface Transportation Efficiency Act in two years will likely allow for Pennsylvania’s I-80 plan to be enacted. “It’s extremely shortsighted to blow a big hole in state budgets while at the same time sending billions to try to boost a weak economy,” Costa said. “It’s counterproductive.” The federal decision will cost Pennsylvania $470 million this year and more in future years, derailing progress on the backlog of bridge repairs, leaving hundreds of miles of roads unrepaired and sharply slashing public transportation. “This isn’t just Philadelphia and Pittsburgh,” Costa said. “This is a big blow to small and growing public transit agencies across the state, meaning more people in cars, more traffic and more imported oil.” Costa said filling the gap would be difficult considering the current state deficit and budget storms on the horizon. “Act 44 was a solution that could have drawn billions in revenue from outside Pennsylvania,” Costa said. “Yet it still drew loud opposition and constant criticism. It’s time for the critics and the opponents to settle down and come up with an answer that works.”