A state leader believes riding the Turnpike is taking a "toll" on too many families.
"Many of our residents here in Pennsylvania commute to their jobs on a daily basis, and even if they do it a little less frequently now with work from home being more of an option, it's still a burden in this time of higher inflation," said State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks).
Santarsiero introduced a bill that would refund drivers 50 percent of their toll costs each year, up to $500. The refund would come as a tax credit.
Tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike increased for the 15th straight year in 2023, with no plans for the price hikes to slow. A September audit from Auditor General Timothy DeFoor reported the Turnpike Commission was in $13.2 billion in debt.
Santarsiero believes legislators can find compromise to both reduce the burden on drivers and fund the state's infrastructure.
"We're sitting on a pretty substantial surplus in our state right now," he said. "I would argue that is exactly what we should be using it toward, to help working families make ends meet."
The program would cover tolls paid on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as well as on bridges under the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, the Burlington County Bridge Commission and the Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee last week.