Pa.'s highways have been mismanaged

Regarding "SOS: Stimulate Our State -- Allow I-80 Tolling" (Feb. 22): I would like to voice my opinion about tolling I-80. You say that without adding tolls on this interstate that Pennsylvania roads will be in dire straits? Dire straits compared to what? Can they get any worse?

This administration has led our state right down the path of budget woes for the past eight years. How about the money that was spent on that magnificent I-43 toll road (the Mon-Fayette Expressway) in Western Pennsylvania? How much was spent on that road while the other roads were deteriorating? How about $1 billion-plus? And it's still not complete. How many people travel this road every day? Not many.

I'll bet if this "badly needed" road had never been built, our taxpayers would never have known the difference. It will take 100-plus years for this road to pay for itself. It was going to spur huge economic growth for the Mon Valley. How's that projection coming along Donora, Monessen, Elizabeth, et al.?

Wake up, Pennsylvania taxpayers; there will never be enough money in Harrisburg to satisfy the beast we call government.

Please do not support this crazy proposal.

 

V.A. MAXWELL
Mt. Lebanon