Bad situations sometimes beget bad ideas, and here is one whose time may be coming -- leasing or selling the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This temptation is driven by the urgent need to find a reliable source of funding for highways, bridges and mass transit and it ought to be resisted.

The notion of privatizing the turnpike has been floated for some time in Pennsylvania and found its way into the recent report by the Pennsylvania Transportation Funding and Reform Commission. One of the recommendations stated: "Aggressively Explore the Use of Public Private Partnerships," which might include a new role at the turnpike for the private sector.

The Rendell administration has taken that word "aggressively" literally. It is currently seeking "expressions of interest" from private firms in order to judge the potential value of leasing or privatizing the turnpike. The process started Dec. 6 and ends by the close of business Dec. 22. This indecent haste should sound an alarm.

Admittedly, although it has been the pride of Pennsylvania for 66 years, the interstate highway has been a hotbed of political patronage. That problem is not as visible today, perhaps in part because fewer jobs are in play because of innovations like EZ-Pass, which reduces the number of toll collectors. In short, other factors loom larger in debating the merits of this idea and one of them is a core principle.

In general, the Post-Gazette has not been hostile to privatization as a way to provide more cost-efficient public services. We have long advocated turning over Pennsylvania's liquor stores, all of which are owned and operated by the government, to private merchants. We believe the state has no business maintaining a liquor monopoly.

The case of the turnpike offers the corollary principle. The state has a duty to build and maintain roads and bridges; such activity is clearly among the traditional responsibilities of government. That other states such as Indiana and Illinois have privatized roads and bridges does not make this right for Pennsylvania, where we don't want to be singing that old Joni Mitchell refrain, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone."

The Rendell administration is entertaining this unsound idea because Pennsylvania needs some $1.7 billion a year for various transportation purposes.

While preliminary estimates of the turnpike's worth vary from $2 billion to $30 billion, according to Gov. Ed Rendell, it is argued that a sale could reduce the size of the possible tax increases being discussed -- including the gasoline tax, sales tax, personal income tax or realty transfer tax. It would be better if some combination of those measures were the remedy, along with squeezing more efficiency out of government.

Privatization has serious disadvantages, which are listed in the commission's report. They include "reduction of long-term positive cash flow in return for upfront benefits," "diminished ability to control levels of service or user charges" and "transfer of control to foreign entities."

In soliciting interested parties, the Rendell administration calls on companies to address "protections to assure that the public is shielded from excessive toll increases and the public interest in a properly maintained roadway and other public benefits is protected." Certainly, that is the first priority and concern, but can the public be assured that its interests will be protected?

The process itself raises suspicions. Sixteen days is precious little time to identify the companies that will be invited to make further presentations. And where are the legislative hearings to explore public concerns? Lost in the rush.

For this reckless drive on the turnpike, the brakes must be applied.