A state court permanently blocked Governor Wolf’s plan to toll nine major bridges on Pennsylvania interstates today.
The Associated Press reported that a panel of Commonwealth Court judges has effectively killed a plan to add tolls to nine bridges. Three Pittsburgh-area municipalities argued that Gov. Wolf’s administration and the Department of Transportation did not follow proper procedure while advancing the proposal to the Public-Private Transportation Partnership Board.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, and Senate Transportation Committee Chair Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. issued the following joint statement:
“Today’s ruling is a victory for millions of Pennsylvania motorists who would have been impacted by Governor Wolf’s bridge tolling scheme. The new tolls would have taken more money out of the pockets of drivers at a time when families can least afford new financial burdens – all without being properly vetted or approved by the people’s elected representatives.
“For years, the Wolf Administration has repeatedly tried to exceed its authority and ignore the separation of powers in state government. We are thankful the Commonwealth Court prevented this plan from being implemented.
“Government functions best when all parties are involved in negotiating a final product together. We remain ready and willing to engage with Governor Wolf, our colleagues in the House, and all other stakeholders to discuss how we should fund our road and bridge projects moving forward.”
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