PennDOT Bridge Tolling Plan Hits Bump In The Road

HARRISBURG, PA — The state House is attempting to slam the brakes on PennDOT's plan to toll as many as nine interstate bridges across the state.

The House approved a bill Tuesday that would cancel a PennDOT public-private partnership's decision to advance the tolling plan. The measure also would give the Legislature approval power over over transportation projects that involve user fees and disapproval power over projects that do not have user fees.

The bill originated in the state Senate, which already has approved legislation. Gov. Tom Wolf has indicated he would veto the measure.

PennDOT in September moved forward with plans to toll the spans by inviting three firms to submit proposals on how they would partner with the agency to repair or replace them. Money for the projects would come from the tolls.

The tolling, expected to go into effect in 2023, would be collected via E-Z Pass or license plate billing. PennDOT has not indicated how much the tolls could be, but the money collected would be used to pay the private contractors to repair and maintain the bridges for as long as 30 years.

Three communities in southwestern Pennsylvania - Bridgeville, Collier and South Fayette - filed a lawsuit last week challenging the plan.

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