PA already has the highest fuel prices and it is going even higher by .08

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Maybe the Turnpike commission was made before PennDOT with how old the Turnpike is?

"The Department of Highways, the forerunner to PennDOT, was created by an Act that was passed on May 31, 1903. Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker signed into the law the creation of the Department, which was one of the first in the country.
The highway system of Pennsylvania was officially created on May 31, 1911 under the direction of the Sproul Act, with 8,835 miles of highway falling under the control of the Department of Highways. However, the greatest growth in the system occurred in 1931 when the Penrose Rural Roads Act gave control of another 20,156 miles of rural roads to the Commonwealth. During this time, the Department of Highways, at the direction of Governor Gifford Pinchot, began an extensive project of paving roads in rural areas known as the "get the farmer out of the mud" program.
...
On May 6, 1970, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) was created by Act 120. The reason for the new department was to consolidate transportation-related duties previously performed by the Departments of Commerce, Revenue, Community Affairs, Forests and Waters, Military Affairs and other state agencies."

Pennsylvania Highways | History

__

In 1791, the legislature of the Pennsylvanian Commonwealth approved a state-wide transportation plan and a year later created the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Company. The turnpike charter called for the construction of a 62-mile log-surfaced road, which provided successful transport for settlers and their goods over the muddy territories.
...
The Pennsylvania Turnpike officially entered service October 1, 1940, exhibiting new concepts of superhighway design and demonstrating that revenue bonds could finance toll roads. Planners predicted that 1.3 million vehicles would use the turnpike each year, but early actual usage was 2.4 million vehicles, sometimes as many as 10,000 vehicles per day were recorded.

https://www.paturnpike.com/yourTurnp...c_history.aspx

[szug-bot]

what if all interstates in the commonwealth became toll roads?

what if all expressways with state route designation (Bigelow Boulevard, Boulevard of the Allies, Schuykill Expressway, et al) became pay as you go routes, too?

this would be an interesting topic for discussion and debate for the legislature.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

what if all interstates in the commonwealth became toll roads?

what if all expressways with state route designation (Bigelow Boulevard, Boulevard of the Allies, Schuykill Expressway, et al) became pay as you go routes, too?

this would be an interesting topic for discussion and debate for the legislature.

I think it has been discussed on this board in the past to toll bridges and tunnels using an automated plate-reading toll system to tax road use and it could even be demand-based rolling, with higher tolls during peak travel times which may help alleviate congestion. This is something that I favor, however it seems like it would meet pretty stiff opposition and would require many bridges to be tolled due to the number of options that exist. The fuel tax seems easier to enforce although it serves slightly different purposes.

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

I think it has been discussed on this board in the past to toll bridges and tunnels using an automated plate-reading toll system to tax road use and it could even be demand-based rolling, with higher tolls during peak travel times which may help alleviate congestion. This is something that I favor, however it seems like it would meet pretty stiff opposition and would require many bridges to be tolled due to the number of options that exist. The fuel tax seems easier to enforce although it serves slightly different purposes.

This region can't even maintain a flood-gate and nearly burnt down a concrete bridge. I think the above-mentioned system would be beyond their capabilities.
Heck, how many times can you get a free ride on the Port Authority because their fare-collecting system isn't working? It happens to me a few times per month.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by tyovan4

This region can't even maintain a flood-gate and nearly burnt down a concrete bridge. I think the above-mentioned system would be beyond their capabilities.
Heck, how many times can you get a free ride on the Port Authority because their fare-collecting system isn't working? It happens to me a few times per month.

Stanwix (two comments above) took the words right out of my mouth. I did not elaborate on what he stated to keep my comment focused.

But he is right - the gas tax is easier to impose.

If anyone has looked/read about other strategies in other cities, you will likely find impressive things. (Of course, not everything is perfect, and the faults of a system of toll collection, for example, are not obvious to all.) HOT lanes on Washington's Capital Beltway in VA - constructed and put into operation in something like 6 months, and working well.

Surface rail transit in Cleveland - I have heard and it seems, a smashing success. I think in Buffalo, too.

My point is that gas taxes are easy, yes, but they may have run their course for reasons people already mentioned (cars are thankfully much more efficient, etc.). Better, long term solutions are needed, and they require planning and attention.

In response to tyovan - well, the flood gates are supposed to be maintained by the City's Public Works, right?
And, the bridge debacle was monumental, but an unfortunate accident from negligence - not a region wide fault. There ARE similar mishaps on transportation systems everywhere. We just don't hear about them, unless you read industry-specific engineering/transportation journals.