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Penn Pike submergence into DOT proposed in SB676 bill
Posted on Wed, 2007-04-11 21:44
Gov Rendell's move to do a longterm lease/concession isn't the only turnpike game in Harrisburg. A bunch of Republican senators are proposing to submerge the Turnpike into the state DOT (PennDOT). They introduced a bill in the Senate (SB676) Apr 2 establishing a Bureau of Turnpike Administration (BTA) within PennDOT.
The BTA headed by a deputy secretary of transportation would assume all the functions of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, gaining title to its assets, operating the Turnpike, employing its employees and gaining its toll setting and construction powers.
In addition the Department would have the power to sponsor toll concessions for private groups to finance, build and toll new tollroads.
The Commission itself would be abolished including the positions of Turnpike commissioners.
The state of Pennsylvania would assume the debt of the Turnpike, and the state Treasurer would assume all the Turnpike's debt issuance powers and responsibilities.
Sen Jane Orie sponsor
The bill's main sponsor is Senator Jane Orie (Republican) and a strong critic of Turnpike CEO Joseph Brimmeier.
She says abolition of the Turnpike is the only way to end longstanding corruption, patronage and waste at the Turnpike. Co-sponsors are three other GOP senators Jane Earl, Edwin Erickson and Lisa Baker.
BACKGROUND
A number of states have absorbed tollroads into their DOTs including:
- Texas with the Turnpike Division of TxDOT
- New Hampshire Bureau of Turnpikes in the NHDOT
- Virginia DOT with a Turnpike Division
Florida has its Florida Turnpike Enterprise within the Florida DOT but the FTE still has independent powers and similarly with Colorado DOT's Colorado Tolling Enterprise.
Prior to the toll concession on the Indiana Toll Road mid-2006 it was operated by the state DOT.
But there are still more state turnpikes with an independent existence: Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma.
In addition virtually all bistate, county and multi-count toll authorities are independent legal entities.
In California the state DOT has lost most of its toll functions which have been devolved to regional authorities.
COMMENT
Absorbing tollroads into state DOTs is not a good idea. They are usually run worse as a branch of a sprawling government department than as a self-contained public entity. State DOTs are usually too big already and the notion that there are economies of scale is a fantasy.
Tollroads are a business operation. They involve financing of roads for which motorists will pay their way. It is a step backward to relegate them to a minor division of a department mainly dependent on tax revenues and state budgetary processes.
State DOTs have been just as much the subject of patronage, waste and inefficiency as state toll authorities. Tollroads run by their own authority usually provide a better level of service than tax-financed roads. This was dramatically demonstrated in Pennsylvania during this year's Valentine's Day blizzard. State DOT operated interstates I-78, I-80 and I-81 were closed for days while the Turnpike remained clear of snow and ice, and was open throughout. The Turnpike became an alternate route for traffic unable to use the mismanaged tax roads.
Better maintenance of tollroads also accounts for their lower level of fatal accidents as compared to tax-supported interstates.
TOLLROADSnews 2007-04-11
The BTA headed by a deputy secretary of transportation would assume all the functions of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, gaining title to its assets, operating the Turnpike, employing its employees and gaining its toll setting and construction powers.
In addition the Department would have the power to sponsor toll concessions for private groups to finance, build and toll new tollroads.
The Commission itself would be abolished including the positions of Turnpike commissioners.
The state of Pennsylvania would assume the debt of the Turnpike, and the state Treasurer would assume all the Turnpike's debt issuance powers and responsibilities.
Sen Jane Orie sponsor
The bill's main sponsor is Senator Jane Orie (Republican) and a strong critic of Turnpike CEO Joseph Brimmeier.
She says abolition of the Turnpike is the only way to end longstanding corruption, patronage and waste at the Turnpike. Co-sponsors are three other GOP senators Jane Earl, Edwin Erickson and Lisa Baker. BACKGROUND
A number of states have absorbed tollroads into their DOTs including:
- Texas with the Turnpike Division of TxDOT
- New Hampshire Bureau of Turnpikes in the NHDOT
- Virginia DOT with a Turnpike Division
Florida has its Florida Turnpike Enterprise within the Florida DOT but the FTE still has independent powers and similarly with Colorado DOT's Colorado Tolling Enterprise.
Prior to the toll concession on the Indiana Toll Road mid-2006 it was operated by the state DOT.
But there are still more state turnpikes with an independent existence: Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma.
In addition virtually all bistate, county and multi-count toll authorities are independent legal entities.
In California the state DOT has lost most of its toll functions which have been devolved to regional authorities.
COMMENT
Absorbing tollroads into state DOTs is not a good idea. They are usually run worse as a branch of a sprawling government department than as a self-contained public entity. State DOTs are usually too big already and the notion that there are economies of scale is a fantasy.
Tollroads are a business operation. They involve financing of roads for which motorists will pay their way. It is a step backward to relegate them to a minor division of a department mainly dependent on tax revenues and state budgetary processes.
State DOTs have been just as much the subject of patronage, waste and inefficiency as state toll authorities. Tollroads run by their own authority usually provide a better level of service than tax-financed roads. This was dramatically demonstrated in Pennsylvania during this year's Valentine's Day blizzard. State DOT operated interstates I-78, I-80 and I-81 were closed for days while the Turnpike remained clear of snow and ice, and was open throughout. The Turnpike became an alternate route for traffic unable to use the mismanaged tax roads.
Better maintenance of tollroads also accounts for their lower level of fatal accidents as compared to tax-supported interstates.
TOLLROADSnews 2007-04-11
