ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Today, the American Trucking Associations praised Ohio Gov. John Kasich for his state’s rejection of a plan to lease the Ohio Turnpike.
“The Ohio Turnpike is a critical artery for freight, carrying a significant share of the goods produced in America’s industrial heartland,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. “We’re happy to see Ohioeschew the dangerous and irresponsible proposal to turn the Turnpike over to private, for-profit entities.”
Under the plan announced today by Gov. Kasich, Ohio will keep toll rates in line with inflation, and use the revenue generated to sell bonds to pay for highway and bridge improvements primarily on and near the Turnpike.
“Gov. Kasich’s plan is a much more responsible approach to infrastructure funding than taking a one-time payment and surrendering control of a valuable corridor to a private group,” Graves said. “This new plan will almost certainly avoid steep increases in freight transportation costs, as well as the diversion of large trucks onto smaller secondary roads that privatization would have produced. We are grateful to the Governor for his willingness to work with the Ohio Trucking Association to find a solution that is fair to the trucking industry.”
“We will continue to work with and educate state officials about the dangers of privatization, and of imposing tolls on existing interstate highways. We urge states to avoid the siren song of Wall Street and fully examine the true costs of privatization, asOhio has, and look for other, less risky ways to pay for their roads and bridges.”
American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!
SOURCE American Trucking Associations