Pennsylvania seeks information on federal toll rejection

PHILADELPHIA, June 2 (Reuters) - Pennsylvania transportation officials will seek further information from the Federal Highway Administration following its rejection last year of a plan to put tolls on Interstate 80, a state transportation official said on Tuesday.

"We are going to consult further with the administration to gain a better understanding of their objectives," said Rich Kirkpatrick, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Both the Interstate toll plan and Democratic Governor Ed Rendell's proposal to privatize the Turnpike in a deal with Abertis (ABE.MC)- Citigroup (C.N) failed to win approval.

In 2007, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission proposed putting tolls on the interstate, which crosses the northern portion of the state, to raise revenue for transportation, including mass transit.

The plan was opposed by some elected representatives from the northern part of the state, who argued that it would hurt local economies.

In September 2008, the FHA rejected the plan for the second time, while the Abertis-Citigroup team let their Turnpike privatization offer lapse after a series of polls showed it was unpopular with voters.

(Additional reporting by Joan Gralla in New York)

(Reporting by Jon Hurdle; Editing by Dan Grebler)