I-80 toll application returned for lack of details

An application to place toll booths on Interstate 80 has been sent back to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for lack of details.

But turnpike officials say the return was not unexpected and they will continue efforts to make the free road a toll road.

Joe Brimmeier, chief executive officer of the turnpike commission, referred to the matter as a “request for more information” from the Federal Highway Administration and not a denial, according to a written statement released Thursday.

“We are pleased that the FHWA has sent us this request for additional information. A project of this magnitude naturally is going to entail a considerable amount of information sharing among the agencies involved. In fact, we fully expected there would be an ongoing dialogue between the FHWA, PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission throughout this process,” he said in the statement.

U.S. Rep. Phil English of Erie, R-3rd, a major opponent of the tolling plan, however, sees things differently.

“It’s clear that the turnpike has not yet completed even basic consultations with local agencies, let alone collaborated with local leaders in developing a final project. Their application proves to be woefully inadequate and silent on a lot of key details,” English said.

For more, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com