Transportation News

HARRISBURG- Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a transportation funding package which keeps control of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the hands of public officials.  Governor Rendell had previously pushed for privatizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  Media reports have indicated that Governor Rendell has abandoned this plan for the time being. 

“The General Assembly recognizes that the Pennsylvania Turnpike should be managed for the public interest, not private profit,” said Jim Swoyer, a public interest advocate with the Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group (PennPIRG). “This is a major public asset, and decisions on what maintenance needs to be done, what safety standards must be observed, and what tolls to charge should all be made based on Pennsylvania’s needs, not a company’s profit margin.”

PennPIRG had been a cautionary voice in the rush to sell off Pennsylvania’s most important transportation asset.  On March 28, 2007, PennPIRG released a paper detailing the problems that could be created by ceding control over transportation planning to a private entity.  PennPIRG engaged in a state-wide public education campaign to highlight concerns about the Governor’s plan.

“We are happy that the General Assembly is not moving forward with the Governor’s privatization plan,” said Swoyer, “but, there is serious money to be made in these schemes.  Transportation advocates should keep watch in case the proposal is resurrected.”

The Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group (PennPIRG) is a non-profit consumer advocacy group representing 3,500 citizen members across the state.  PennPIRG has offices in Philadelphia and Harrisburg.  For more information, visit www.pennpirg.org