Penn Pike departs IBTTA to form American Public Toll Assoc

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is withdrawing from the International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) on the grounds it has been leaning too much toward private and international toll operators. Turnpike chief executive Joseph Brimmeier tells us he and other US public toll authorities will be forming a new American Association of Public Toll Roads.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike's withdrawal is a dramatic development in toll industry representation because it and other American public toll agencies formed IBTTA in the first place, and have been at its center for most of its history. American public toll executives still have a majority on the executive committee of IBTTA and the board of directors.

Brimmeier in a letter to Pat Jones of IBTTA writes: "Please be advised that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is withdrawing its membership from the International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association. The mission and goals of the PTC no longer coincide with those of the IBTTA."

He says that under Jones leadership IBTTA "has been leaning toward the privatization sector" and cites conference topics, panel members, and the makeup of the Board of Directors. He also says the dues structure is "inequitable."

The combination of an alleged private sector bias and the dues "leaves us no other choice than to withdraw," he writes.

Brimmeier ends by saying his tenure at IBTTA was educational and enjoyable and he treasures the friendships.

Interview

In a telephone call this evening Brimmeier told us the Pennsylvania Turnpike pays $21k in dues to IBTTA whereas over 20 Spanish members pay only $18k total.

He said: "Abertis which has been trying to eat us only pays $340."

We are not sure if those numbers compute but the discounted dues structure for international members is clearly a grievance.

"I can't justify twenty one thousand dollars a year at a time like this when the interests and goals of the Turnpike aren't being served," Brimmeier said. In the past six months the Turnpike has cut staff by 75 and operations costs by about $10m.

"I wasn't born yesterday," Brimmeier told us. "The private members are a growing factor (in IBTTA). They have different interests from us. (Also) they have more money than we do. Why should we pay tens of thousands of dollars to support them."

Brimmeier also complained that IBTTA conferences increasingly cover subjects of little or no interest to American public toll authorities.

He said many shared his views about IBTTA going in the wrong direction.

Brimmeier said his phone had "been ringing off the hook" since he emailed his letter of resignation to CEOs of other American public toll authorities.

"I'll give it a little while, then I'm going to form an American association of public toll roads, so we can talk about the issues we want to talk about."

No reaction yet that we've been able to pickup.

Letter from Joe Brimmeier, CEO Penn Pike to Pat Jones, CEO IBTTA:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/sites/default/files/JB-PJ.pdf

COMMENT: Privatization is clearly a major issue for the toll industry and Joe Brimmeier himself is pursuing it for the Mon Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway. We think he exaggerates the influence of international groups at IBTTA and the differences of interest.

But if American public toll authorities see a need for their own association, good luck to them. Hopefully there's room for both an international IBTTA and an association focussed on narrower American or North American issues. US public toll authorities should be able to participate in both IBTTA and Brimmeier's AAPTR.

We guess the challenge is in funding two associations rather than one - just at a time when everyone sees their revenues shrinking. Maybe they can share some overhead expenses while pursuing separate interests under separate governance.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-02-12