Luzerne County unfairly burdened by I-80 toll proposal, local leaders say

Feb. 27—Luzerne County leaders say residents and businesses will be unfairly burdened by a proposal to toll two bridges along Interstate 80.

State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Twp., hosted a virtual forum on Friday bringing more than 80 stakeholders together to discuss the proposal, which would put tolls on bridges over the Nescopeck Creek and Lehigh River as soon as 2023.

Luzerne County is "bookended" by these two bridges, which are just 22 miles apart on the highway, she said.

One of the bridges is at the Village of Tank in Black Creek Twp., which is near the county's western border with Columbia County, and the other bridge at White Haven on the county's eastern border with Carbon County.

The proposal would affect Luzerne County motorists, in addition to truckers going to and from two large industrial parks in Greater Hazleton, whether they would be traveling east or west on the highway, which bisects the state.

Toohil noted that commuters and residents alike would be impacted by the tolls, which could be as much as $2 each direction, and additional fees would be added to motorists without E-Z Pass devices in their vehicles, she said. The E-Z Pass device also allows the state to easily increase the tolls, similar to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, she said.

State Sen. John Yudichak, I-14, Swoyersville, said that with two bridges, Luzerne County would be shouldering 25% of the statewide burden from the tolls proposed on a total of nine state bridges.

Questions also exist on whether the state Department of Transportation's P3, or Private-Public Partnership, Board has the authority to tax or appropriate funds through the tolls, which will not generate enough to cover the department's current funding deficit, he said

A broader solution, possibly utilizing federal funds, is needed, Yudichak said, and one that doesn't further burden the residents of Luzerne County, who also have to shoulder the economic loss due to the closure of the White Haven Center and the state prison at Retreat.

No other county in the state would face the same burden as Luzerne, said county manager Dave Pedri.

"Residents of Luzerne County will have to pay a toll for the use of Route 80 every single time," he said. "This is an issue that has to be brought to the forefront, because we're being treated differently than 66 other counties in the state."

Pedri also noted that by the state Department of Transportation's own estimates the tolls on the bridge over the Nescopeck would generate more than $540 million over 30 years, when only $195 million is needed to repair and maintain that bridge over the same time period.

Residents traveling on the highway would be paying an additional $300 million in tolls for other road projects in the state from the revenue generated by just that one bridge, he said.

The tolls would remain in effect for 30 years, but others cautioned that once imposed that tolls could become permanent.

Industry in the area already relies on the interstate highway system to transport goods, and tolls on those highways and bridges would hurt existing businesses and stunt future growth, economic development leaders said.

Joseph Lettiere, president and CEO of CAN DO, the Hazleton area's economic development organization, said that competition for industry is fierce.

Companies are looking at investing in complexes covering 20 to 25 million square feet in the Hazleton area over the next 10 years or so, which would strengthen the area's economy and help unemployment, he said.

Tolls on the two bridges would impact that potential growth and impact the workforce, which has a wide commuter pattern, Lettiere said.

Mary Malone, president of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, said the tolls would only further impact an already challenged workforce and community.

This proposal not only impacts large employers, such as those in the Humboldt and Valmont industrial parks, but also small businesses, which make up the majority of the chamber's membership, she said.

Wico van Genderen, president of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the move will impact the decisions of businesses considering locating in the area, speaking from his experience in national and global operations.

The tolls will negatively impact the region's ability, not only to attract new companies, but also retain existing ones, he said.

Hazle Twp. Supervisor Jim Montone questioned how much will the area and companies be expected to give.

Three companies considering locating in the area of Route 424 and Interstate 81 are being asked by PennDOT to fund road improvements and a bridge expansion, he said.

"Is that going to continue to happen?" Montone asked. "Where does it end? And what impact on development will that have?"

Montone's concerns along with those of other community and business leaders will be presented to the department, Toohil said. She appreciated everyone's participation, because the community can present a united front, she said.

Toohil plans to seek additional information from the department to find out how far along in the process the proposal is, and whether it is a done deal, similar to the proposals to close the White Haven Center and Retreat.

Those closures negatively impacted Luzerne County, and this proposal would see the area continue to be treated unfairly by the state, she said.

Contact the writer: kmonitz@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3589