PITTSBURGH (100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA) A fight is underway to stop the planned tolling of an Interstate 79 overpass in Allegheny County.
South Fayette Township, Bridgeville Borough and Collier Township officials filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court against PennDOT Thursday, asking them to halt plans to toll the I-79 bridge near the Bridgeville exit.
The bridge is one of nine the state plans to toll to raise revenue for replacement and rehabilitation.
The lawsuit claims PennDOT didn't use proper and legal procedures when selecting the nine bridges.
"The tolls itself are the catalyst as to what is the problem," said attorney John Smith who represents the three South Hills communities. "They find that problematic. Every one of them has said 'we were surprised,' and the statute is not designed to have surprise. It's designed to have consultation and oversight. Never happened."
At a press conference Thursday, State Rep. Jason Ortitay and State Sen. Devlin Robinson, though not directly involved in the lawsuit, showed support for the attempt to stop the project.
They voiced concern over the proposed toll's potential economic impact on the area and its residents.
"When businesses start getting wind that there's going to be a toll here, they may start pumping the breaks, thinking 'hey, maybe we shouldn't come here,'" said Ortitay. "I don't want to see that happen, and nobody in this area wants to see that happen."
Though the lawsuit only names the bridge in Bridgeville, should the court rule in favor of the communities, it would discredit plans to toll the other eight bridges, according to Smith.
"We only have standing to object to the tolling of the Bridgeville project," Smith said. "Fortunately or unfortunately, if the court rules in our favor, all of the other projects would fall."
PennDOT did not respond to request for comment.