PA Turnpike Chairman Sean Logan Welcomes Forthcoming Audit
Chairman Logan looks forward to dialogue on tougher consequences for toll evader

NOV. 10, 2015 — PA Turnpike Commission Chairman Sean Logan issued the following statement in response to an announcement made earlier today by Auditor General Eugene DePasquale regarding an upcoming audit of the commission.

“The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) welcomes the review by Auditor General DePasquale during this quadrennial performance audit. This audit — which has occurred for nearly two decades — is an important check and balance that confirms the job we do in managing our business practices and lets customers know their toll dollars are being spent wisely. It is just one of several independent and internal audits — both statutory and voluntary — performed on our finances and operations each year.

“Today, the PTC is operating more like a business, and we value any opportunity that could lead to improvements in our business operations. As we have done in years past, I pledge our full support and cooperation with the Auditor General’s office throughout the process. We remain confident that our financial operations continue to serve customers and the Commonwealth well. Our track record shows that we are good stewards of customers’ toll dollars.

“We are continually looking for ways to improve and streamline operations and to boost transparency, and we look forward to working with the Auditor General for those reasons.

“Furthermore, we take very seriously the issue of E-ZPass violations. Plain and simple, those who intentionally evade tolls are crooks. We aggressively pursue toll violators because such behavior is unfair to the more than 99 percent of honest drivers who do pay their tolls.

“While it is true that the total value of unpaid E-ZPass violations on the PA Turnpike was $33.3 million as of May 31, the end of our fiscal year, the commission, in that same timeframe, received more than $31 million back from law-abiding individuals who paid their E-ZPass violations.

“As we have in the past, the PA Turnpike Commission would welcome a dialogue on the subject of more serious consequences for toll evaders. In the meantime, I pledge that we will continue to do all we are empowered to do to insist everyone pays what’s owed.”

—PTC Chairman Sean Logan

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