Grain Valley, Mo., Dec. 4, 2008 – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) responded to today’s announcement from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission by calling for the repeal of Act 44 and suggesting an alternative solution to a 25 percent increase in tolls.

“The Turnpike Commission must change their ways and reform their spending habits, no doubt about it.  However, Act 44 is the main culprit in this situation,” commented Mike Joyce, OOIDA’s Director of Legislative Affairs.  “Act 44 was a dreadful piece of legislation. It effectively forces the Turnpike Authority into substantially increasing tolls.”

Joyce continued, “Truckers move the vast majority of our nation’s goods and commerce. The last thing we need to do in the middle of a recession is weigh them down with significantly increased tolls.”

Toll increases were included as part of Act 44, which passed requiring the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) to pay lease payments to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, while allowing the PTC to toll I-80.  In September, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) denied a request from Pennsylvania transportation officials to impose tolls on I-80.

“Act 44 should instead be repealed, lease payments should be returned from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to the turnpike authority and then the planned toll increase should be lowered,” said Joyce. 

"Pennsylvania has to change their ways.  In addition to some serious-minded reform in how they spend the public’s transportation dollars, the legislature should seriously consider dissolving the Turnpike Commission into PennDOT and get rid of one of the worst-managed toll agencies in the country.” 

Joyce added, “That makes a whole lot more sense than tolling I-80 or selling off turnpike.”

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more than 7,500 members in Pennsylvania and over 160,000 members nationwide.