Turnpike lease

The Commonwealth Foundation has added another layer to its well-funded PR campaign to sway public opinion in favor of leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike -- billboards.

Three billboards, two along the turnpike and one in Harrisburg, will tell motorists to visit TurnpikeFacts.com, a Web site created by the foundation to explain why it thinks leasing the turnpike is a better option than tolling Interstate 80.

The billboards are in addition to radio ads, millions of direct-mailings and Internet advertisements on several state politics blogs the Commonwealth Foundation has already purchased.

The group proposing a $12.8 billion takeover of the Pennsylvania Turnpike doesn't plan to give up easily, The Patriot-News reports.

Just days after the House Transportation Committee Chairman said the proposed lease is dead, the paper reported the toll road company, Abertis Infraestructuras and Citigroup Inc., plans to launch a massive PR campaign to sway public opinion, including radio ads and 4 million to 6 million direct-mailings.

"We want to engage the people of Pennsylvania in this conversation," Jim Courtovich, spokesman for the venture, told The Patriot-News, "because we think on something of this magnitude and size, they are as important as the Legislature."

The deal has the support of Gov. Ed Rendell, but has thus far proved unpopular with the legislature, Democrats and Republicans alike.

Realizing their projected deal is lacking the necessary votes right now to pass the legislature, Governor Ed Rendell and Citi Infrastructure Investors managers have agreed to extend the bid for 30 days to give Rendell time to change minds.

Barron’s Online has weighed in on the Pennsylvania Turnpike lease and they are in support of the deal.  Barron’s calls it a “great deal for a cash-strapped state.”

Peter Samuel, editor of TollRoadsNews.com also calls the deal a “good idea.”

The deal which is being proposed by Governor Ed Rendell still needs approval from the legislature where its fate is still unknown. 

Governor Ed Rendell made his turnpike announcement today and streamed it live on PA.gov.  The streaming was great if you were a lip reader being there was no sound.   Picture is great though. 

EDIT: About 8 minutes in the state workers finally got around to turning on the microphone.

Governor Ed Rendell has just announced he would like to lease the PA Turnpike to Spain's Abertis Infraestructuras and its partner, Citigroup Inc. of New York City.  Abertis is Europe’s largest operator of toll roads.

Any lease will need to be approved by the legislature and is seen as tough uphill battle for the Governor.