Free turnpike travel for Pennsylvania Turnpike employees draws questions from lawmakers

Jul 30, 2010 — The Patriot-News

Kari Andren

Jul. 28, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Lawmakers questioned a job perk given to Pennsylvania employees Tuesday that allows them to travel the turnpike for free for both business and personal reasons.

Pennsylvania Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier told the Senate Transportation Committee during a hearing Tuesday that all employees have free access to the 545-mile tolled highway either via an E-ZPass or by using their work identification badge.

Brimmeier said he did not know off-hand the cost of that perk annually for the roughly 2,000 turnpike employees.

The perk was called into question as turnpike officials told lawmakers of the many efforts they have employed over the last two years to streamline and become more efficient, including freezing administrators' pay since the fall of 2008, eliminating about 60 vacant positions and cutting 15 management positions.

The turnpike commission also approved a series of toll and fee increases this month which increase tolls for E-ZPass users by 3 percent and raise tolls for cash customers 10 percent. The commission also doubled the annual fee for the E-ZPass transponder from $3 to $6.

Sen. John Rafferty, R-Berks County, chair of the committee, said this is an area that needs to be looked at.

When Brimmeier was asked after the hearing if allowing employees to travel for free while cutting positions and raising tolls created a public appearance problem, he answered, "No."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0082-47476946