HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's search for billions of dollars to patch up its transportation infrastructure was dealt a significant setback Friday when key leaders of the state Senate said a Pennsylvania Turnpike lease deal will not be approved this year.

"There is no support for taking it up in this fall session," said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware. "And we should not rush into such a major policy decision under some sort of artificial deadline."

Gov. Ed Rendell and the plan's other supporters last week called for speedy legislative action on the lease idea after federal regulators rejected a competing plan to raise transportation dollars by tolling Interstate 80.

The 75-year Turnpike lease would include a $12.8 billion upfront payment to subsidize mass transit and repair crumbling bridges and roads.

Pileggi said he "can't foresee any circumstances" in which the deal would go through the Senate this year.

His position was echoed by Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, the chamber's president pro tempore.

"I believe the plan that's on the table now for the Turnpike is a bad deal for Pennsylvania," Scarnati said. "I believe it's too low."

Jim Courtovich, a spokesman for the group that submitted the highest bid, said the offer involved complicated financing and would probably be withdrawn after the second week in October. Despite the senators' remarks, he said the partnership would continue to push for legislative approval.

Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for the Democratic governor, said the Turnpike lease should have been a priority in the closing months of the two-year legislative session.

"Clearly we are disappointed with the senators' remarks, given the crisis that we face in transportation funding, and the concrete bid on the table that now would provide the necessary funding," Ardo said.