Private Toll Roads a Public Concern

By EDITORIALS

The death of the Pennsylvania taxpayer can now be confirmed: It was by nickels and dimes. The state Legislature seems to be spending an inordinate amount of time thinking of ways to pay for infrastructure and services that are normally paid for by tax dollars. The latest “big” idea is the privately owned and operated toll road, a sort of private sector Pennsylvania Turnpike. A study commissioned by the state House Select Committee on Toll Roads concluded that private toll roads are the wave of the future. Under the concept, private developers would contribute to the construction of a highway or high-occupancy lane that charges a toll. In return, the developer would own the road, operate it or receive a share of the profits. The study did not identify travel corridors or recommend tolling of existing “free” highways. But it does urge further study of the public-private approach to building roads, along with the preparation of enabling legislation to cover the delivery and financing of such projects. The logic behind it is that private-sector participation offers a relatively quick and painless way to maintain and expand the state’s highways. Currently, there is a $30 billion backlog in highway projects. The state, the logic goes, already is pushing the limits of the 31.5-cents-per-gallon gas tax among the highest in the nation which is used to fund highway construction. “The bottom line is that existing public funding is insufficient to meet the growing needs of Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure,” said state Rep. Richard Geist (R- Altoona), the chairman of the House Transportation Committee who also heads the select panel. States like Florida and Virginia are already exploring such private-public partnerships, and the initial response from potential developers has been overwhelming. In Florida, developers were stepping all over themselves earlier this month to get the opportunity to bid on a three mile private toll road in New Tampa. It would be the first privately funded toll road in the Sunshine State. The same was true about Virginia, where a number of private companies have offered to pay billions to take over the eight-lane Dulles Toll Road and add express lanes. The enthusiasm of the private sector notwithstanding, Pennsylvania should move cautiously toward private toll roads. In most large highway-building projects, the state hires private construction companies to do the work. That the companies would now take on this expense may provide initial relief for beleaguered taxpayers. But the companies would get back their investment and more in fees that motorists would pay in perpetuity. It’s little wonder that private companies are excited about owning toll roads. Pennsylvanians aren’t unfamiliar with the concept of toll roads, this being the home of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the nation’s first super highway. But that fact alone doesn’t make the prospect of widespread use of private toll roads any more palatable. State government is good at coming up with ideas for fees (or raising fees) to help pay for infrastructure or services. It’s considering such an action in connection with the Pennsylvania State Police, which wants to charge $100 per resident to provide coverage for municipalities that don’t have or, more likely, can’t afford to maintain their own police force. Such a fee would have the citizens of these municipalities wondering what happens to the tax dollars they already send to Harrisburg. They would be saddled with the privilege not only of paying those taxes, but state-imposed fees, as well. The answer to how we fund Pennsylvania’s highways is not an easy one. Higher gas tax? Perhaps. More effective use of tax dollars. That’s much better. Less onerous regulations and elimination of the prevailing-wage requirement. Yes. Adding fees on top of fees? No.