Letters: Is a new highway the only solution?; BOT candidates with the right priorities

Is a new highway the only solution?

I just returned from the PennDOT open house about their recent study of potential new stretches of highway connecting Potters Mills to I-80 through either Centre Hall/Pleasant Gap or Tusseyville/Boalsburg. As I learned there, the motive for the project is to find a way to facilitate trucking traffic. Apparently, more truckers are opting for I-80 and US 322 instead of the tolled Turnpike for their cross- and interstate transport.

If my understanding is correct, I wonder: Has anyone considered tolling I-80 instead of constructing more highway? Equalizing the costs of traveling I-80 and I-76 would remove incentive for truckers to skip the Harrisburg-to-Ohio stretch of the Turnpike, in turn lessening the traffic burden borne by our region and removing the need to consider building more freeway at all.

There was lots of talk at the open house of the unavoidable negative impact of building a throughway. Yet the only question PennDOT seemed to be asking was: Which of these route options for a new highway leads to the most tolerable mix of loss or degradation in air quality, agricultural resources, ambient noise levels, stream health, woodlands, historic and archeological resources, and housing stock for local residents?

But why assume building a new, expensive, characterless freeway is the only solution? If we toll I-80, couldn’t we avoid 10 years of construction and a billion dollars in expense, raise long-term revenue for the commonwealth, and keep the character of southern Centre County intact?

BOT candidates with the right priorities

This November, 2021, the CDT published my letter, “Wake-up call for board of trustees.” The letter lamented the fact that US News ranked Penn State academically near the bottom of the Big 10 (falling from No. 37 nationally in 2014 to No. 63 today) despite having the highest (public) tuition. Most shockingly, in Best Value we were ranked No. 174 nationally (Towson No. 173). I argued that our university well-being is the board’s ultimate responsibility.

There are three incumbents and five challengers for the three alumni seats in the board election ending May 5 (I know none of the candidates). I am heartened by the position statements of the incumbents (Oldsey, Doran and Brown). It seems that they may have read my letter. Oldsey’s priorities are (1) Driving the Value of a PSU Education, and (2) Academic Ranking. And, Bill says, “I am leading an initiative to study the current ranking landscape.” Bill, name it the “174 Initiative.”

The Penn State Forward candidates’ (Farhi, Hasenkopf, Smith) top priority is climate action. In contrast, Fenchak, who regularly attends board meetings, underscores the need to address tuition, long-term debt and plummeting rankings. His data-driven position statement is a recipe for stronger academic pathways and improved fiscal policies. Candidate Schmidt frankly acknowledges that “alumni recognize … value of a Penn State degree has taken a hit.” My choices: (1) Fenchak, (2) Oldsey and (3) Schmidt. And, Fenchak would increase to three the number of engineers on our 32-member board.

McSwain will get us back on track

I am a conservative Republican. I have seen a lot of yard signs for Doug Mastriano for governor. Does no one remember the election issues of 2020? Mastriano caused some of the problems of that election. Maybe this website will refresh your memory: triblive.com/opinion/tricia-cunningham-corman-mastriano-act-tough-on-election-integrity-but-they-caused-the-problems. I will not vote for Corman or Mastriano because of this. My vote will be for Bill McSwain. Service is in Bill McSwain’s blood: he is a conservative Republican, a U.S. Marine and a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, appointed by President Trump. As Governor, Bill’s priorities would be strengthening our economy, reducing crime, promoting school choice and pro-family policies, and securing our elections. Securing our elections should be a top priority! He, also, wants to get rid of the Pennsylvania gas tax, which will give us all some much needed relief from Biden’s policies that affected us all. Let’s make sure that there is not a repeat of the 2020 election and choose your candidate, for governor, wisely. Governor Wolf has caused us enough grief. Let’s choose someone that will get us back on the right track. Someone that’s not a politician!