Joe Brimmeier in Vienna "spoke with confidence" about I-80 but didn't say it was a done deal - one for the record
Posted Thu, 2007-12-20 09:01
Given the controversy around what was said by Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission CEO Joseph Brimmeier on a deal to toll I-80 at the IBTTA meeting in Vienna we made an appeal Nov 21 to people who had a clear recollection or record to come forward. Here's one we just got supporting Brimmeier's denial:
"I have read your article of 2007-10-10 and your appeal of 2007-11-21 as posted in TOLLROADSnews.com concerning the remarks made by
Mr. Brimmeier at the IBTTA Annual Conference in Vienna, Austria.
"I was in attendance on Tuesday afternoon, October 9,2007 when Mr. Brimmeier presented his remarks on the topic 'Tolling I-80; A Public Private Partnership.'
"His presentation did not use powerpoint, however it was not "impromptu". He spoke from notes that were visible to me and others in the audience. His style of presentation was not to read "word for word a written text" from the dais but to refer to them as he raised his eyes from the notes to address his audience.
"He did not commit that tolling of I-80 was a done deal or that approval from the FHWA was guaranteed. He did confirm that a public process was underway, related several recent topics and items of concern that have resulted from the public outreach program. He also spoke of the FHWA process that would be initiated to seek approval as made available under TEA 21.
"He spoke with confidence of the I-80 initiative, but did not commit the FHWA to approval.
"I trust you will consider these words as persuasive in your deliberations on the matter addressed in your 2007-10-10 article.
"Thank you.
"Donald J. Mauer, Jr PE, PP
Vice President"
COMMENT: Mauer is New Jersey/Pennsylvania Office Manager and Technical Champion – Tollways for STV, an engineering firm working through the mid-Atlantic area with a head office in Douglassville in central Pennsylvania.
Mr Mauer said it was fine to publish his letter and we thank him for it.
Others in touch with us were much less supportive of Joe Brimmeier's denial but none wanted to be on the record here. He certainly conveyed the impression he was saying it was a "done deal" to a number of people present.
It's a great pity there isn't a recording or transcript. Even his prepared notes have not been released.
We remain uncertain at this point.
This final comment has no bearing on what the Turnpike chief said or didn't say in Vienna: the Turnpike Commission has flown into the project to toll I-80 AS IF it were a done deal with the Feds - signing a 50 year lease agreement/concession with PennDOT, hiring consultants and staff, and borrowing some hundreds of millions of dollars - $532m on Oct 25 - with further similar scale borrowings in the works.
TOLLROADSnews 2007-12-20
"I have read your article of 2007-10-10 and your appeal of 2007-11-21 as posted in TOLLROADSnews.com concerning the remarks made by
Mr. Brimmeier at the IBTTA Annual Conference in Vienna, Austria."I was in attendance on Tuesday afternoon, October 9,2007 when Mr. Brimmeier presented his remarks on the topic 'Tolling I-80; A Public Private Partnership.'
"His presentation did not use powerpoint, however it was not "impromptu". He spoke from notes that were visible to me and others in the audience. His style of presentation was not to read "word for word a written text" from the dais but to refer to them as he raised his eyes from the notes to address his audience.
"He did not commit that tolling of I-80 was a done deal or that approval from the FHWA was guaranteed. He did confirm that a public process was underway, related several recent topics and items of concern that have resulted from the public outreach program. He also spoke of the FHWA process that would be initiated to seek approval as made available under TEA 21.
"He spoke with confidence of the I-80 initiative, but did not commit the FHWA to approval.
"I trust you will consider these words as persuasive in your deliberations on the matter addressed in your 2007-10-10 article.
"Thank you.
"Donald J. Mauer, Jr PE, PP
Vice President"
COMMENT: Mauer is New Jersey/Pennsylvania Office Manager and Technical Champion – Tollways for STV, an engineering firm working through the mid-Atlantic area with a head office in Douglassville in central Pennsylvania.Mr Mauer said it was fine to publish his letter and we thank him for it.
Others in touch with us were much less supportive of Joe Brimmeier's denial but none wanted to be on the record here. He certainly conveyed the impression he was saying it was a "done deal" to a number of people present.
It's a great pity there isn't a recording or transcript. Even his prepared notes have not been released.
We remain uncertain at this point.
This final comment has no bearing on what the Turnpike chief said or didn't say in Vienna: the Turnpike Commission has flown into the project to toll I-80 AS IF it were a done deal with the Feds - signing a 50 year lease agreement/concession with PennDOT, hiring consultants and staff, and borrowing some hundreds of millions of dollars - $532m on Oct 25 - with further similar scale borrowings in the works.
TOLLROADSnews 2007-12-20