Really?

 

It is one of those stories that defies analysis, and it erodes your faith in state government.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission says unpaid tolls last year totaled $ 155 million, and that's a 48 per cent increase.  The state explains away the increase by saying turnpike tolls have increased, as well as the number of drivers using the highway.

No matter how you look at it, nearly seven per cent of the people who drive the highway don't pay tolls.

FIX THIS!

It's not the first time a problem has cropped up.

I am tempted to quote Mayberry Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife here and say "Nip it in the bud."  But, upon further reflection, we are well past the bud stage here.  This has been happening for months.  We get excuses rather than solutions.  It's bad enough that it happened.  It's even worse that it still happens.

Could imagine what that $ 155 million could do?  New lanes, better rest areas, patched potholes, resurfacing, better signs, new interchanges...

The first graphic in this entry says it all.  People who follow the rules are carrying the turnpike operation on their backs.

Where is the outrage?