new toll authority

Pennsylvania House transport committee chair Joseph Markosek (Dem, Allegheny/Westmoreland) has proposed creation of a new public authority, the Pennsylvania Transportation Finance Authority (PTFA) to take over the Pennsylvania Turnpike and to finance and operate other tollroads in the state.

Regional authorities in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads are given tolling & concession powers in HB3202 a complex and much fought over transport funding bill passed by the Virginia legislature Apr 4.

Major focus in the mainstream media coverage has been the bill's increases in taxes, although tolls offer far greater potential for raising new revenue that the rather minor proposed increases the tax on motor vehicle insurance premiums and in the state diesel fuel tax.