Dauphin County Commissioners Pass Resolution in Strong Opposition of Tolling I-83 South Bridge – as Area Legislators Also Speak in Opposition

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The Dauphin County Commissioners passed a resolution Wednesday strongly opposing a proposal to toll the I-83 South Bridge as means to fund replacement, asking that funding sources more considerate of taxpayers be pursued.

Commissioners Mike Pries, Chad Saylor, and George P. Hartwick, III passed the resolution after hearing comments – also in strong opposition to the tolling proposal – from area lawmakers and leaders.

Commissioner Chair Pries called PennDOT’s consideration of tolling the bridge perhaps the “most tone-deaf move of all time.”

“They simply don’t have their finger on the pulse of the people, or they simply don’t care – neither is acceptable,” Commissioner Pries said.

Commissioner Saylor pointed to taxing electric vehicles among other funding options in need of consideration.

“We understand the need here, we have to take care of the infrastructure,” Commissioner Saylor said. “But there are other ways to do it.”

Commissioner Hartwick asked for a collaborative approach to finding a funding solution, calling the tolling a proposal a “knee-jerk reaction.”

“This [a toll] will put a further barrier between the two counties,” Commissioner Hartwick said.

The commissioners will be requesting a meeting with Gov. Wolf on the matter.

Pa. Representatives Patty Kim, Tom Mehaffie, Andrew Lewis, Susan Helm, Greg Rothman, and Harrisburg City Councilman Dave Madsen all spoke Wednesday in opposition of a toll.

Harrisburg City Mayor Wanda Williams was not able to attend the meeting but asked the commissioners to relay her opposition to a toll.



MEDIA CONTACT: Brett Hambright, Press Secretary, 717-780-6311; bhambright@dauphinc.org.