HARRISBURG -- The Democratic speaker of the state House is urging federal transportation officials to reject "political opposition" to the tolling of Interstate 80 and approve the controversial tolls because Pennsylvania transportation projects urgently need the money.

Speaker Keith McCall comes from Carbon County, which is just south of I-80 in northeast Pennsylvania. He wrote to federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood a few days ago, urging him to ignore opposition from "a vocal minority of our congressional delegation" and approve the tolls.

"While I understand their desire to fight on behalf of their constituents,'' Mr. McCall said, "it is imperative that your office review this application (for tolls) in the proper context and with the foresight to look at the larger picture of the Commonwealth's best interest at the core -- the jobs and infrastructure improvements that the Commonwealth so desperately needs ... There can be no worse time to restrict funding options or to take away options for states nationwide ... ."

Gov. Ed Rendell said recently that if the tolls get a go-ahead from the feds, Pennsylvania will have $922 million to spend this year on road/bridge repairs and on mass transit. But without the tolls, there will be only $450 million available, which will leave a lot of roads and bridges in questionable condition and could led to fare hikes or service cuts by mass transit in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Congressional representatives from northern Pennsylvania of both parties, including Republican Glenn Thompson and Democrats Kathy Dahlkemper and Paul Kanjorski, have opposed the I-80 tolls, which they say would negatively impact their citizens and businesses. Mr. McCall recently announced he won't seek re-election to the House this year.

Mr. LaHood is expected to announce within a few days whether Pennsylvania can put tolls along the 300-mile interstate.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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