THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY CONKLIN AND M. O'BRIEN, MAY 5, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MAY 5, 2010  

AN ACT

Amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, providing for gateway tolls,

definitions, powers and duties of the department, toll

revenue distribution and discounted tolls.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Title 74 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:

CHAPTER 85

OTHER TOLL ROADS

Subchapter

A.  General Provisions

B.  Gateway Toll Roads

SUBCHAPTER A

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec.

8501.  Short title of chapter.

8502.  Scope of chapter.

8503.  Definitions.

§ 8501.  Short title of chapter.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Gateway

Tolling for Transportation Independence Today Act.

§ 8502.  Scope of chapter.

This chapter relates to the creation and regulation of all

toll roads in this Commonwealth other than the Pennsylvania

Turnpike.

§ 8503.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Department."  The Department of Transportation of the

Commonwealth.

"Interstate highway."  Any Commonwealth road designated by

the Department of Transportation as an interstate. This term

shall not include the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

SUBCHAPTER B

GATEWAY TOLL ROADS

Sec.

8511.  Establishment.

8512.  Powers and duties of the department.

8513.  Toll revenue distribution.

8514.  Discounted tolls.

§ 8511.  Establishment.

There is established on all interstate highways a gateway

toll. This toll shall be collected at the entrance to

Pennsylvania and at the exit from Pennsylvania of all interstate

highways.

§ 8512. Powers and duties of the department.

(a)  Collection of tolls.--The department shall have the

authority to collect tolls at the entrance to Pennsylvania and

at the exit from Pennsylvania for all interstate highways.

(b)  Amount of tolls.--The toll shall be $5 per commercial

motor vehicle and $1 per noncommercial motor vehicle. The

department shall review the tolls on an annual basis and have

the authority to alter the tolls no earlier than two years after

the passage of this act.

(c)  Method of collecting tolls.--The department shall devise

a method of collecting tolls that is accurate, allows for the

collection of tolls with cash and allows for the collection of

tolls electronically.

(d)  Federal approval.--The department shall be responsible

for submitting all necessary information to the Federal

Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway

Administration. The department shall also be responsible for

responding to requests from the Federal Department of

Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration regarding

the tolls collected under this subchapter.

(e)  Rules and regulations.--Within 30 days of the effective

date of this chapter, the department shall promulgate rules,

regulations and amounts of the tolls and fees, including

estimated implementation budget, which will be funded from these

tolls. The department shall submit this information to the

Pennsylvania Code for publication. The department shall hold a

public hearing on the proposed toll rates within 30 days of

publication.

§ 8513.  Toll revenue distribution.

(a)  Use.--Revenue collected by the department shall be used

as follows:

(1)  To pay for the maintenance, upkeep and improvements

to the interstate highways.

(2)  For the costs of the department for administering

the toll program under this chapter.

(3)  For mass transit funding.

(b)  Guidelines.--The department may use the protocols set

forth under Chapter 15 (relating to sustainable mobility

options) as a guideline for distribution.

§ 8514. Discounted tolls.

(a)  Implementation.--The department shall implement a

program allowing for discounted tolls when an individual or

entity prepurchases tolls in bulk. This discount shall be at

least 25% but not more than 50% less than the current full cost

for the tolls being prepurchased. The prepurchased tolls shall

be valid for at least the first five years at which time the

department may adjust this rate to by no less than 10% and no

more than 20%.

(b)  Usage.--All prepurchased tolls shall be utilized with

the electronic payment system that the department shall

implement under section 8512(c) (relating to powers and duties

of the department).

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.