It was a relief when PennDOT announced the first bridges facing tolls under a new plan did not include any spans in the Lehigh Valley.
But local drivers will not be immune to the proposal to toll nine major bridges on interstates around the state.
The closest spans to Lehigh Valley drivers are a bridge replacement on Interstate 78 in Berks County, estimated to cost between $50 million and $60 million, and a bridge replacement on Interstate 80 over the Lehigh River in Carbon and Luzerne counties, estimated to cost between $60 million and $75 million.
PennDOT wants to hear from people about the plans, and there are two in-person hearings coming up.
The hearing for the I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project plan is slated for 3:30-7 p.m. May 18 at Mountain Laurel Resort, 81 Treetops Circle, White Haven, Pa. 18661.
The hearing for the I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge Replacement Project is slated for 3:30-7 p.m. May 19 at the Kempton Community Center, 83 Community Center Dr., Kempton, Pa 19529.
Comments via email, letter or through a website form can still be made until next month: the deadline is June 2 for the I-80 plan and June 3 for the I-78 plan.
Don’t think it will make a difference?
Community input was part of the reason plans for the I-78 bridge were charged from tolling in both directions, to tolling now only being pursued for westbound traffic, PennDOT said. The change was announced this past March.
Reviews showed the change will keep the toll rate in the $1 to $2 range for passenger vehicles using E-ZPass, and that one-way tolling will reduce overall traffic diversion on local roads., PennDOT officials said.
The price of the tolls could also mean tolling is changed or removed on bridges under the program.
If financial analysis shows the toll rate would be more than $1-$2 for a passenger vehicle using EZPass, the I-78 bridge would be removed from the program, said Ron Young, spokesman for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 5, which covers the Lehigh Valley.
PennDOT officials have committed to abandon tolling plans for the I-83 South Bridge project connecting Harrisburg to Lemoyne in Dauphin County if the same financial issue arises.
The bridge tolling idea, developed for the Major Bridge P3 program and previously approved by the state’s Public Private Transportation Partnership, is to pay for the bridge repairs or replacements.
The program allows PennDOT to give bridge construction and maintenance to a private company, and charge tolls to pay for the repairs or replacement.
Lawsuits have been filed to stop the state’s tolling plan, including one by affected municipalities.
If the tolling plan goes through, there is a plan to help low-income drivers.
The Low-Income Financial Assistance Plan would provide free tolls to low-income drivers who qualify to receive other financial assistance from the state (SNAP, LIHEAP, Medicaid, etc.) based on income level.
A household member would apply for the Low-Income Financial Assistance Plan and select one bridge for free trips; users may select any bridge, but the program is designed to provide access to bridges that the driver travels frequently.
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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
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