Pennsylvania Mulls Leasing Turnpike to Private Investment Firms

ennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) said he was soliciting “expressions of interest” from private-sector investment groups to place a monetary value on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a first step toward privatizing the road.

“For years, Pennsylvania has been enduring a transportation crisis with no feasible, comprehensive solution that is based on an analysis of all available options,” Rendell said in a statement. “There are dozens of ideas that have been proposed over the years, including leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike.”

Rendell said that before the state pursues a lease of the 537-mile turnpike, “we need to learn more about the lease option and how much revenue it could generate.”