Gov. Ed Rendell says he'll quit being "Mr. Nice Guy" about the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's slow pace in submitting an amended application to the Federal Highway Administration to toll Interstate 80.

"I have asked them twice nicely," he said Monday in Penn Hills, where he signed legislation to borrow $350 million for bridges, aviation and freight rail projects. "This week, I'm going to ask them not so nicely."

Mr. Rendell did not elaborate on what he might do to force the turnpike's hand on responding to requests for further information that the FHWA submitted last December in response to a preliminary state application to convert I-80 to a national toll road pilot project.

But he made it clear that he thinks turnpike officials are stalling.

"The turnpike wanted to make sure the Legislature didn't act before it adjourned for the summer," Mr. Rendell said, referring to a proposal to lease the turnpike instead of tolling I-80.

Lawmakers left Harrisburg after the 2008-09 state budget was approved more than a week ago, and state Rep. Joe Markosek announced the lease proposal would not be released for a vote by the committee that he chairs.

Lawmakers aren't scheduled to return until September, and then only for a limited number of business days.

Mr. Rendell's comments indicate his growing impatience and differences with the turnpike commission, which has successfully opposed his plan to lease the turnpike.