Clarion County commissioners have put their opposition to the proposed tolling of interstate bridges on the record.
A resolution adopted by the commissioners calls for the Pennsylvania P3 board to “immediately” reverse its approval of the bridge tolling initiative.
The plan, part of the state’s Pathways Program, calls for tolls on nine high impact bridges on several interstate highways, including four bridges on Interstate 80.
The resolution also said the tolling of the bridges would force drivers to use secondary state and local roads to avoid the tolls. The detours would also create wear and tear on those roads.
The resolution says county residents have voiced “contempt” for the plan, and the commissioners are calling on Gov. Tom Wolf and the state legislature to stop this “grossly unpopular proposal to toll any bridge in the Commonwealth.”
And commissioner Ted Tharan added the county hasn’t received any answers to the questions posed at the recent hearing conducted in Clarion by Congressman Glenn Thompson.
“PennDOT has been very quiet,” said Tharan.
“PennDOT keeps telling us that this is not for sure and nothing is happening yet,” said Brosius. “Just the fact that they are talking about it hurts the area. It hurts anyone who is talking about bringing a business here.”