April 16th, 2013 by WCBC Radio
In a letter dated March 28, 2013, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley contacted Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett proposing that “Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) move forward and complete” the project planning studies “for the full length of US 219 between I-68 and Meyersdale utilizing Maryland’s Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) funds.” Dave Moe, Coordinator of the North-South Appalachian Highway Project, called this a bold and unprecedented offer of bi-state, bi-partisan cooperation seeking to complete the last segment of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) Corridor ‘N’ (US 219) from I-68 in Maryland, to Meyersdale, PA”. Governor O’Malley’s letter referenced that PennDOT & MDOT have been working together since 2002 on this project, sighting that PennDOT was forced to withdraw from the project in 2007 because it could no longer financially support it. The Greater Cumberland Committee has spearheaded the revitalized effort to complete the North-South Appalachian Highway Project. Member Bob Smith says slowly, but surely the project is coming together…
April 13th, 2013 by WCBC Radio
In a letter dated March 28, 2013, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley urged Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett proposing that “Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) move forward and complete” the project planning studies “for the full length of US 219 between I-68 and Meyersdale utilizing Maryland’s Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) funds.”
“This is a bold and an unprecedented offer of bi-state, bi-partisan cooperation seeking to complete the last segment of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) Corridor ‘N’ (US 219) from I-68 in Maryland, to Meyersdale, PA”, said Dave Moe, Coordinator of the North-South Appalachian Highway Project.
Governor O’Malley’s letter referenced that PennDOT & MDOT have been working together since 2002 on this project, sighting that PennDOT was forced to withdraw from the project in 2007 because it could no longer financially support it.
Moe states “This project has a history of starts & stops since 1999. Most recently, the 219 Corridor was identified by a four state coalition of PA, MD, WV, & VA in a North-South Feasibility Study as having the highest potential for job creation in the region”.
“This offer by Maryland to fund the planning & environmental review processes is unprecedented”, said Somerset County Commission Chairman, John Vatavuk. “It is a major step in completing 219 to I-68, which is a goal that I share with Congressman Bill Shuster. It’s an offer we wouldn’t think Governor Corbett could refuse.”
“With the completion of both segments, there will be a 77 mile, 4-lane divided highway from I-68 in Maryland to Carrolltown, PA, north of Ebensburg. This is the way government is supposed to work; two Governors of opposite political parties working together to meet the needs of their respective regions of their states to promote economic development and job formation in each”, said Commissioner Jim Raley, Garrett County.
TGCC Executive Director Brenda Smith shared that this communication “is invaluable to the continuation and completion of the corridor. Since 2009, TGCC has made great strides in taking this once shelved project and keeping it in front of representatives in MD, WV and PA.” The recently passed federal transportation legislation, MAP-21, contained a "Sense of the Senate" provision that emphasizes the completion of the ADHS as a transportation priority in the national interest. “This Governor to Governor proposal seeks to help fulfill that legislative request”, said Smith.
PennDOT continues to work with the Army Corp of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in finalizing the last permit necessary for the 219 construction project from Somerset to Meyersdale.
The North-South Appalachian Highway is a 4-lane, divided highway of US 219 from Somerset, PA to I-68 in Maryland as the northern leg of a three state project. It would utilize existing I-68 from its intersection with 219 to Cumberland, MD. The southern leg of the project is a 4-lane divided highway of US 220 south to ADHS Corridor “H” in West Virginia. Corridor “H” is an east-west highway from the Virginia intersection of I-66 and I-81 to I-79 in West Virginia.
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