Dowling, Cook, Warner Support Reviving Southern Beltway Construction
HARRISBURG – Reps. Matt Dowling (R-Fayette/Somerset), Bud Cook (R-Washington/Fayette) and Ryan Warner (R-Fayette/Westmoreland) are leading an effort to urge completion of the Southern Beltway construction project, which, as part of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, would connect communities along the Monongahela River and south to the West Virginia border.
“It is critical that the Southern Beltway be given a top priority for the purpose of jobs and economic development,” said Dowling. “There is a significant opportunity here to revive and remodel brownfield sites for manufacturing development.”
In a letter to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Secretary Leslie S. Richards, the signers agree that the Mon-Fayette Expressway project was envisioned to enhance the economic development of communities along the Monongahela southward to the West Virginia border but, sadly, many of the brownfield sites remain vacant at this time.
“There is a lot of heavy lifting that needs to be done to ensure that our state and local economies thrive and our regional travel and tourism are revitalized,” said Cook. “Quality of life, lack of investment, blight removal, business development along the river and rail lines to promote industrial bulk shipping are just a few of the major challenges that need to be overcome to help our entire region to flourish once more. Completing the construction on this missing 14 mile extension of the Mon-Fayette extension is absolutely essential to achieving multiple economic development objectives.”
“The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s rational for taking the Mon-Fayette extension to Monroeville is completely ridiculous,” Warner said. “This is a wasteful government project. Connecting Monroeville was never part of the plan for the Mon-Fayette Expressway and absolutely makes no sense economically or logistically. Instead, we need to focus on completing the Southern Beltway now. With the cracker plant coming on line soon and other ancillary jobs expected, the Southern Beltway will be a key to revitalizing the job opportunities for area residents, and it will have a worthwhile economic impact on the region.”
The letter states the Turnpike Commission deferred the completion of the Southern Beltway project to the point that it will not be completed before the middle of the 21st century. The legislators maintain that, by that time, the opportunities for the beltway communities will be lost.
The writers demand that priority status be given to the missing link between the Southern Beltway from Interstate 79 to the Mon-Fayette Expressway.
In addition, the signers say resources are scarce and should not be spent on an extension to Monroeville. They urge the recalling of the original vision of the Mon-Fayette and Southern Beltway and stay true to the purpose of completing the missing link between the Southern Beltway from Interstate 79 to the Mon-Fayette Expressway.
Joining Dowling, Cook and Ryan in the letter are Reps. John Maher (R-Allegheny/Washington), Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny); Mark Mustio (R-Allegheny); Aaron J. Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence); Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington); and Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny/Washington).
Representative Matthew Dowling
51st Legislative District
Representative Bud Cook
49th Legislative District
Representative Ryan Warner
52nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Raymond Smith
717.705.1834
rsmith@pahousegop.com