WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today urged the Senate to allow the use of toll credits for Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) projects, enabling Pennsylvania and other Appalachian states to utilize unspent money and making it easier for states to access funding for ADHS projects in the future.
“I write to support legislative language in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill to allow the use of toll credits for Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) projects,” wrote Senator Casey. “This policy revision is critical so the 13 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) states can better leverage a substantial amount of previously allocated federal funding.”
Currently, federal law prohibits states from using toll credits towards their non-federal share of an ADHS project. In his letter to Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and James Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senator Casey urged a revision to that policy be made to increase the flexibility of states to utilize toll credits to cover non-federal cost shares of ADHS projects.
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Chairman Boxer and Ranking Member Inhofe:
I write to support legislative language in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill to allow the use of toll credits for Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) projects. This policy revision is critical so the 13 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) states can better leverage a substantial amount of previously allocated federal funding.
As you know, the Safe, Accountably, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, P.L. 109-59) included language which prohibits states from using toll credits toward their non-federal share of an ADHS project. Historically, the ability of states to utilize toll credits to cover non-federal cost shares has increased the flexibility of state transportation finance programs, enabled states to more effectively utilize existing resources and encouraged investment in infrastructure. Prior to this statutory change in SAFETEA-LU, state transportation agencies had greater flexibility to furnish ADHS non-federal matching funds when other state highway funds were limited. Repealing the prohibition on using toll credits toward non-federal shares of ADHS projects would allow states to use toll credits for ADHS projects as they could before the enactment of SAFETEA-LU. This would unlock existing unspent balances, make it easier for states to access future funding and allow ADHS projects to move forward. Furthermore, this policy change would eliminate a disparity that does not exist for the vast majority of other federal transportation programs.
Thank you for your past support of the Appalachian Development Highway System. I appreciate your attention to this important issue.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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