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C O M M I S S I O N N E W S R E L E A S E |
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Contact: |
Thomas A. Fox
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November 20, 2003 |
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The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has committed $141 million to perform final design and acquire right-of-way for the two Southern Beltway projects currently in the preliminary engineering/environmental study phase of development. The action was in response to a written request to Commission Chairman Mitchell Rubin from State Senator J. Barry Stout of Washington County , the ranking member of the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee. Stout has strongly advocated that the Commission take action to commit funding for the final design and right-of-way acquisition phases for the Southern Beltway projects between U.S. Route 22 and the Mon/Fayette Expressway. U.S. Representative Tim Murphy of Upper St. Clair, whose Congressional District encompasses much of the corridor for the proposed Southern Beltway system, also sought a formal commitment to fund those phases of the project development process. “I believe it is very important to acquire the right-of-way for the two remaining Southern Beltway Projects as soon as possible after environmental clearances have been issued by the Federal Highway Administration,” Stout wrote in a letter to Chairman Rubin. “This will ensure that the right-of-way within the corridor is preserved for the ultimate construction of the projects and (it will) eliminate the uncertainty for the property owners who (would be) directly impacted.” The Turnpike's proposed Southern Beltway system consists of three independent but interconnected projects that would extend approximately 32 miles south and east from the Pa. Route 60 Expressway at Pittsburgh International Airport to the Turnpike's new Mon/Fayette Expressway near the Monongahela River in what is known as the mid-Mon Valley. A groundbreaking ceremony featuring Governor Edward G. Rendell was held November 12, 2003 , at Pittsburgh International Airport to mark the start of construction for the first six of those 32 miles, the so-called Findlay Connector between the Route 60 interchange at the airport and Route 22 in Robinson Township , Washington County . The Findlay Connector is targeted for completion by mid-2006. A project beginning at the Findlay Connector's interchange with Route 22, between the Champion and Bavington interchanges on Route 22, would extend the Southern Beltway system approximately 13 miles through the McDonald area to Interstate 79 at the border of Washington and Allegheny counties. Final design and right-of-way acquisition costs are estimated at $76 million. The remaining Southern Beltway Project would extend the beltway system approximately 13 miles east from I-79 to an interchange with the Mon/Fayette Expressway in Union Township , Washington County, south of Finleyville. Final design and right-of-way acquisition costs for the I-79-to-Mon/Fayette Expressway Project are estimated at $65 million. Neither of the projects that would extend the Southern Beltway system south and east from Route 22 has advanced through the environmental clearance process, meaning that alignments have not been formally approved. Target dates for environmental clearances are Fall 2004 for the Route 22-to-Interstate 79 Project and Spring or Summer 2005 for the I-79-to-Mon/Fayette Expressway Project. The Turnpike Commission cannot begin final design work or right-of-way acquisition until the selected alignments are approved by the Federal Highway Administration and a Record of Decision is issued for each project. However, its commitment of additional dollars will allow the Commission to position itself to begin those phases without delay as soon as it is allowed. “This should reinforce the message that the commission is serious about these projects and will direct all available resources toward their advancement,” said Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Joe Brimmeier. “The Mon/Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway systems are the kinds of modern transportation infrastructure that will better equip the Commonwealth and the Pittsburgh region to compete for people and private investment.” The Turnpike Commission was mandated by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to study, construct and operate the Mon/Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway projects. Approximately half of the north-south, 70-mile Mon/Fayette system, including about 10 miles constructed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), is operational. Committed funding for the Southern Beltway system has been boosted from approximately $220 million to approximately $360 million. Overall, approximately $1.7 billion of the estimated $4.2 billion necessary to complete both systems is now spent or committed. |
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P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676 Phone: (717) 939-9551 Fax: (717) 986-9649 |
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