Headlines

1. Review of Canadian public works projects lauded by Schwarzenegger
2. Va. leases busiest roadway
3. Turnpike pays high toll for Pennsylvania, D.C. lobbying
4. Florida city ponders privatizing services

1. Review of Canadian public works projects lauded by Schwarzenegger
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration cites four projects in British Columbia, Canada, as positive examples of the use of public-private partnerships. SFGate.com examines these BC projects and finds cost overruns and delays.

2. Va. leases busiest roadway
Private companies can collect tolls for 75 years.
Five days before Christmas, the Virginia Department of Transportation signed an agreement with Fluor Enterprises Inc. and the Transurban Group to construct and operate 14 miles of "High Occupancy Toll" Lanes, or HOT Lanes, on the Capital Beltway, the busiest stretch of road in Virginia, reports The Connection.

3. Turnpike pays high toll for Pennsylvania, D.C. lobbying
Whn it comes to lobbying, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is one big spender on the federal and state levels. In 2007, the turnpike commission spent $396,000 in Washington, D.C., more than most large cities and states. It was one of only a few U.S. toll road or bridge agencies to shell out any money at all for politically related activities, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Harrisburg-based Commonwealth Foundation, a research and education group, said the turnpike commission’s big spending on lobbyists is consistent "with its history as a cash cow for political appointees and campaign contributions."

4. Florida city ponders privatizing services
Titusville, FL City Council members discussed privatization at a recent workshop, looking ahead to Jan. 29, when Floridians vote on a state property tax reform amendment that has cities scrambling for ways to keep municipal services running efficiently on possibly less money, according to Floridatoday.com.