Stop Misguided Road Privatization

What's New

Across Pennsylvania, cash-strapped governments are struggling to plug the gaping holes in their budgets, scarred by the impacts of the economic crisis. At the same time, Pennsylvania's roads and bridges remain congested and in desperate need of repair. Enter global private infrastructure companies and their backers in the world of investment banking. Read all about the hidden costs and potential downsides in our new fact sheet: Private Roads, Public Costs-The Facts About Toll Road Privatization.

Last summer, PennPIRG advocates testified in front of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives addressing many of the concerns raised about leasing Pennsylvania highways in general, and the Turnpike in particular, revolve around costs in a monetary sense, especially raising tolls. But there are many less visible costs whose impact will be far greater than toll increases under the proposed contract. These costs need to be brought into the discussion.

These hidden costs take the form of lost accountability, hidden subsidies, and reduced public control.

Read the news release and testimony.

How You Can Help

Hold the line against short-sighted privatization

Send an e-mail to State Rep. and House Transportation Chair, Joe Markosek, to make sure he holds the line against short-sighted privatization of our highways. Tell him not to allow private toll road sell-offs to pass through his committee. Take Action.

Overview

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a major public asset worth billions of dollars, and its day-to-day operation directly impacts the lives of thousands of Pennsylvanians. Pennsylvania businesses rely on the Turnpike to deliver goods to their doors, commuters use it to get to work, and students rely on it to get to and from school. The Turnpike’s operation also affects the thousands of home owners who live nearby. This can take the form of the impact noise and car emissions can have on the surrounding environment, changes in the traffic flow on local roads, billboard placement, or a myriad of other ways local communities can be affected.

Gov. Rendell has raised the possibility of leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private entity, and the General Assembly could vote on enabling legislation as early as April. Any proposal to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike should be carefully scrutinized to ensure that Pennsylvania’s long-term public interests are met. It is critically important that any potential plan maximizes the full range of the Turnpike’s public benefits over the life of the lease. Focusing solely on the Commonwealth’s short term cash flow problems could significantly impair Pennsylvanian’s long term financial health, and negatively impact our transportation policy for decades to come. The Turnpike is more than just a source of revenue; it is a vital component of our public infrastructure, and its operation is a keystone of Pennsylvania transportation policy.

PennPIRG is working to keep America’s roadways from being sold off to private investors. Privatization of public roadways would compromise the public’s safety and pocketbooks.