New Survey Shows Pennsylvanians Oppose Turnpike Privatization Plan by 2:1

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 11, 2007 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) released a new statewide survey showing 2 out of 3 Pennsylvanians oppose selling the Turnpike to a privately-owned company.

"People understand private investors are motivated by the bottom line," said Jim Runk, President of PMTA. "That bottom line will be a key factor in any decisions made regarding toll increases, road maintenance, snow removal and highway safety. At the end of the day, Pennsylvanians have to repay this loan -- most likely though toll increases and/or higher taxes."

The statewide survey of 800 registered Pennsylvania voters was conducted April 12-17 by Susquehanna Polling and Research. Among the main findings, the survey revealed that a majority rejected popular privatization arguments that revenues gained from a lease would help avoid a tax increase and that private operators would result in more efficient management of the Turnpike.

The survey also revealed that Pennsylvanians of all political parties, both genders, all ages, and different ideologies equally opposed to selling the Turnpike:

  -- Party Affiliation: Opposition includes a majority of Republicans (56/33
     opposed), Democrats (63/29 opposed) and Independents (61/29 opposed).
  -- Gender: Opposition includes a majority of males (59/36 opposed) and
     females (60/26 opposed).
  -- Ideology: Opposition includes a majority of self-described
     conservatives (59/32 opposed), liberals (61/33 opposed) and moderates
     (59/27 opposed).
  -- Age Groups: Opposition includes a majority of voters ages 60 years old
     and older (62/28 opposed), 45-59 year olds (60/31 opposed), 30-44 year
     olds (57/34 opposed) and 18-29 year olds (53/42 opposed).

David Shumaker, PMTA Chairman of the Board and President of Shumaker Trucking Company, a 40-year-old family business in Dillsburg, PA, voiced additional concerns over the privatization proposal, citing toll increases that his company's 25 trucks must now absorb when traveling over the recently privatized Indiana Turnpike.

"For the past 25 years our trucks have made weekly runs to Chicago, traveling on the Indiana Turnpike," said Schumaker. "Last week, one truck paid $19.00 to travel the l78 mile toll road. Before the road was sold to private investors, the same truck would pay $4.50. As a result of Indiana's privatization plan, my small business will pay an additional $2,100 a year- just in toll increases in one state.

"It doesn't make sense for the Commonwealth to adopt plans that increase costs for small, family businesses like mine. Ultimately, it will hurt my ability to keep costs for customers low and stay in business."

The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association is a statewide organization of Pennsylvanians engaged in the motor transportation industry, dedicated to effectively representing the concerns of the trucking industry to members, government and regulatory agencies and the general public and assisting member companies in managing the impact of change in the trucking industry and to enhance the professional and economic growth of its members.