Rendell May Drop Plan for Leasing Penn. Turnpike

Tom Biery/Trans Pixs

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) signalled he would drop a controversial plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike in a concession to state lawmakers, as the two branches work toward agreement on a new state budget, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday.

The governor had backed a plan that would have wanted to lease the turnpike to a private operator who would collect tolls and maintain the road.

Trucking groups including the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association had opposed the plan.

Meanwhile, as part of a plan to raise transportation funds, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a measure Monday that would add tolls to about 300 miles of Interstate 80, the Associated Press reported.

An overall tax plan backed by Democrats aims to generate about $720 million in new highway, bridge and transit funding starting next year, which would rise to $1.05 billion by 2017, AP said.. The I-80 tolls would start in 2010.

State lawmakers also approved a measure backed by Rendell that would create a “public-public partnership” between the state’s turnpike commission and transportation department, the governor said in a notice on his Web site.

Rendell, meanwhile, praised the House bill that would set the partnership between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and PennDOT, saying it was a “critical first step toward solving Pennsylvania’s long-standing transportation crisis.

“This amendment represents a solid compromise to address the pressing needs of our bridges, roads and public transit systems,” said the governor’s statement on his Web site.