By Becky Polaski

Staff Writer

EMPORIUM – The debate over whether to convert Interstate 80 into a toll road continues to be argued across the state and residents asked Senator Bob Casey, Jr. about his stance on the matter when he visited Emporium yesterday afternoon.
“I don’t know what the federal government could do,” Casey said. “We don’t vote on it.”
Casey remarked that if he had a vote he would want to see some economic data and analysis showing the benefits that would be gained from adding tolls to Interstate 80.
“There’s a big debate about that, but I haven’t seen any conclusions with regard to what the studies show about the impact,” Casey said.
In particular, individuals stressed to Casey the concern that adding tolls to Interstate 80 would cause more vehicles to use other routes across the state, increasing the cost for those roads to be maintained.
Known as PA Act 44, the proposal to convert Interstate 80 into a toll road was introduced in 2007. Though it was approved by the state House, Senate and Gov. Rendell, the plan to place tolls on Interstate 80 was ultimately rejected by the Federal Highway Administration. In October 2009, the state submitted additional information to the Federal Highway Administration in hopes that they would overturn their previous decision and approve the project.
According to a section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Web site devoted to Act 44, the tolls placed on Interstate 80 would account for about 30 percent of the revenue generated by Act 44.