The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has identified the Green Alternative (Option 1A) in Section 1 and the Tan-Red Alternative in Section 2 as the Recommended Preferred Alternative for the I-79 to Mon/Fayette Expressway Southern Beltway Project. Information on all these alternatives studied in detail is available on the Maps page and the Photos page of this web site. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)/Section 404 Permit Application is also available on the project homepage.

Due to the lack of federal funding for the construction of this project, the PTC has elected to advance the project utilizing either PTC and/or private funding options.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will now serve as the lead federal agency rather than the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  Therefore, the FHWA has rescinded their earlier Notice of Intent to issue a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and the Corps has issued a new Notice of Intent to issue a DEIS which appeared in the Federal Register on October 23, 2007.

Circulation of the DEIS for this project was officially advertised on December 14, 2007. The DEIS, identifies the Recommended Preferred Alternative, will be made available at local municipal sites, libraries, and other locations for public review and comment until February 8, 2008. Please refer to the Public Hearing Advertisement for a listing of review locations.

A Public Hearing on the DEIS will be held on January 24, 2008 at Canon-McMillan Senior High School. Project information, including the plans, anticipated impacts, and preliminary right-of-way information will be available and on display from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Recording of formal testimony will begin at 6:00 p.m. The public will be afforded the opportunity to present views, opinions, and information that will be considered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the PA Turnpike Commission.  For additional information on the Public Hearing, please refer to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Public Notice. The purpose of the hearing is to formally record public and agency input before an alternative is officially identified as the Preferred Alternative in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

Written comments may be submitted to the PA Turnpike Commission or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Addresses for both agencies are listed on the Public Hearing Advertisement.  All comments must be received prior to 4:00 p.m. on February 8, 2008.  E-mail comments will not be accepted.

The FEIS for this project will address the comments received during the DEIS circulation period and is anticipated to be made available for public review and comment in the Summer of 2008. The Turnpike Commission's current target date for a Record of Decision (environmental approval and the identification of the Selected Alternative) from the Corps is Fall 2008.