The Morning Journal...
Elyria could benefit from turnpike privatization
By Kaylee Remington
Tuesday, May 22, 2012 

ELYRIA — Mayor Holly Brinda and other Lorain County mayors and managers met with state officials last week to talk about Gov. John Kasich’s idea of privatizing the Ohio Turnpike. 

Kasich’s proposal could be an opportunity for Elyria to receive funds back, Brinda told City Council last night, though she added she hasn’t decided if she is for the idea of privatizing it. 

“I haven’t taken a position one way or another,” Brinda said, “There are many against this for many different reasons.” 

Brinda said the goal would be to figure out the value of the turnpike and to create jobs and build Ohio’s infrastructure 

She told state officials about Elyria’s dilemma of only being able to spend $235,000 this year to resurface roads. She said she offered a formula to give revenue back to cities like Elyria. 

“My pitch was if they can figure out a way to leverage the value of the turnpike, they could come up with a formula to provide funds back to the municipalities,” she said. “Elyria would bode well.” 

Brinda said she would like to see them create a formula to provide funds for road improvements, if the turnpike is privatized. She said that Lorain County has some of the most miles of the Ohio Turnpike traveling through it. 

Revenue that is generated will be used to build other roads and meet the state’s infrastructure needs. 

The range of potential options to get the most value out of the turnpike would be to do nothing, transfer operations to Ohio Department of Transportation, contract-out operations and maintenance, lease the facility or any combination of the above, she said. 

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