PITTSBURGH - Less than one week after Governor Rendell's announcement that he is accepting proposals from prospective purchasers of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the founder of this Web site, the Honorable Rufus Peckham, announced that he will accept proposals for the purchase of his 200-foot long driveway in Pleasant Hills."Only the driveway's for sale," the Judge explained, "not the house." Any sale of the driveway would not effect Judge Peckham's rights of ingress and egress to his home since a perpetual easement over the driveway would be granted to the owner of the house.
The impetus for the idea, according to Judge Peckham, was cash: "For quite some time, I have been enduring a funding crisis with no feasible, comprehensive solution," the Judge explained. "But I figured that if I got, say, $10 billion for the driveway, that money would be put into interest-bearing investments. At an 8 percent rate, it would generate $800 million a year for my transportation and other household needs."
According to the Judge, the purchaser would be free to erect toll booths and sell advertising and franchising rights along the 200-foot stretch. "Of course," the Judge quickly noted, "I would be immune from any tolls."
