The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission yesterday released a list of 20 possible toll locations for Interstate 80 -- including two in Centre County.

One proposed location is between exit 161 (Bellefonte) and exit 173 (Lamar). The other is between the Snow Shoe interchange with state Route 144 and the Kylertown/ Philipsburg interchange with U.S. Route 220 and state Route 26.

In July 2007, the Pennsylvania legislature passed Act 44, which turns I-80 into a toll road in order to recuperate more than $116 billion over a 50-year period to benefit transportation maintenance and improvements, according to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's Web site.

One stipulation being considered is allowing drivers with E-ZPass to avoid the toll at the first toll booth they pass, allowing local drivers to evade the tolls.

Despite personally disapproving of Act 44, Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre, is pleased local drivers can avoid the toll, said Conklin's Chief of Staff Tor Michaels, who called the stipulation "a silver lining."

The act allows for nine to 10 toll booths statewide. That number is excessive, Michaels said.

"It's bad for business. There are other ways we can come up with to get the necessary revenue needed," he said, citing an idea to change the way the State Police are funded, which would free up funds for mass transit and infrastructure improvement.

Unlike Conklin, State College Borough Council President Elizabeth Goreham supports the idea of tolling I-80.

"A high percentage of traffic is trucks just driving through Pennsylvania ... I think it's a good idea to have the people who use the roads pay for them," she said.

She mentioned that, like Conklin, she also supports the idea of locals being free of the tolls, because commuters are already hurting from high gas prices. She added Pennsylvania is not the only state that is having trouble raising money for transportation.

"This is a case of what has been happening nationwide. Transportation funding is in a terrible mess. ... The gas tax is not keeping up with the cost and need for road improvements," she said.

Money collected from the tolls will have a variety of uses, including road repairs and maintenance and funding for more mass transit, she said.

Goreham is aware some people don't support the tolls but said it is important to consider the toll's long-term effects.

"It's important to focus on the big picture," she said.