WASHINGTON — A federal highway administration official told Pennsylvania transportation officials that they should not assume they will get permission to toll Interstate 80.

Last week, two Pennsylvania agencies signed a 50-year lease to turn I-80 into a toll road and applied to the federal government for permission to do so.

James Ray, chief counsel and acting deputy administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, said in a letter dated Oct. 17 that the review process is just beginning and that no decision has been made.

"In reviewing this application, we will conduct a thorough analysis of the application's merits based on the statutory criteria and determine if the selection of I-80 in Pennsylvania for one of three nationwide tolling pilot authorities is appropriate," the letter said.

In July, state legislators approved the plan to toll the interstate, which runs 300 miles through the state between the New Jersey and Ohio borders. Under the agreement, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will lease I-80 from the state Department of Transportation and generate $116 billion over 50 years.

Joe Brimmeier, the CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, said Monday that, "We're proceeding with a positive attitude, but we don't assume anything is a done deal."