Keith Leaphart was given a unanimous and favorable recommendation on Tuesday from the Senate Transportation Committee for the position of the new Pennsylvania Turnpike commissioner, writes Anthony Hennen for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Leaphart, who is a physician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, will primarily focus on fare collection and reduction of annual toll increases.

“The Turnpike Commission will do extremely well with him here,” said Sen. Vincent Hughes, Philadelphia.

However the praise Leaphart received was bipartisan.

“Your resume is incredible, impressive, and I think will bring a different dynamic to looking at this issue, so I look forward to that as well,” said Sen. Wayne Langerholc, of Clearfield. “I will support your nomination.”

Leaphart used his written testimony to emphasize the quality of the toll collection system the Turnpike runs.

“Leakage has always been a challenge for the tolling industry — even in cash collections — just as it is in the retail sector,” he wrote. “We do everything we can to minimize it. Overall, the PA Turnpike Commission captures 93-94 percent of revenues. Leakage is vastly a customer-behavior issue — not a system issue.”

He added that the collection was at “expected levels.”

Read more about Keith Leaphart in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Yes, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is the most expensive toll in the world.