The Greater Cumberland Committee

North/South Appalachian Highway

In early 2009, members of The Greater Cumberland Committee agreed to make this our #1 priority project as part of the organization’s 2009/2010 work plan.  Citing its importance from an economic development perspective, TGCC has:

  • Worked to advance the Draft Environmental Impact Studies (DEIS) for both legs of the highway, US Route 219 North and US Route 220 South
  • Launched the N/S Appalachian Highway Coalition, which includes business and civic leaders, government entities and elected officials in the Highway’s affected states of Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia
  • The Coalition currently has 135 members
  • Largely due to TGCC’s efforts, Maryland restored $750,000  to complete the DEIS for the southern leg (Route 220)

 

2011-2012 North/South Appalachian Highway Action Plan

  • Reinstate use of toll credits as state match for ADHS projects, including the northern leg of the Appalachian Highway, US 219 N.
  • Ensure completion of Tier 1 Study for southern leg of the Appalachian Highway, US 220 S, including Record of Decision by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); Secure funding for Tier 2 Study for US 220 S.
  • Maintain media momentum and project awareness.
  • Continue to build the North/South Appalachian Highway media outlets.
  • Educate, or re-educate as appropriate, elected officials at local, state and federal levels regarding the economic and safety values of this project.
  • Develop a plan to ensure that the project continues to advance through future phases of development.

 

North/South Highway Advocates Meet with 13 Congressional Offices during Recent Trip to Washington, D.C.

On March 29 & 30, seven members of the North/South Appalachian Highway Coalition met with Congressional leaders and staffs in an effort to educate federal elected officials on the critical value of this project. Participating in this 2-day trip were Kim Leonard (Chair, N/S Coalition), Meg Lauerman (Project Manager, Continental-1 Coalition), Dave Moe (Garrett County Development Corporation), Mona Ridder (Mineral County Development Authority), Colleen Peterson (Executive Director, TGCC), Dr. Wayne Spiggle (TGCC member & former Mineral County Commissioner), and John Vatavuk (Somerset County Commissioner). Janet Vatavuk joined her husband in this “march on Washington”.

The North/South Highway travel team met with Congressman David McKinley (WV), Congresswoman Shelley Moore-Capito (WV), Congressman Mark Critz (PA), Congressman GT Thompson (NY), Senator Robert Casey (PA) and Senator Joe Manchin (WV). In addition, the team met with staff members from the following offices: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA), Congressman Nick Rhall (WV), Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD), Congressman Tom Reed (NY), Senator Jay Rockefeller (WV), Senator Charles Schumer (NY) and Senator Pat Toomey (PA).

The purpose of meeting was to educate Congressional representatives from Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia on the economic opportunities and safety considerations related to completing the North/South Appalachian Highway, which is designed to provide an essential north-south transportation connection linking the existing east-west corridors of I-68 in Maryland, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Corridor H in West Virginia. The March 29 & 30 trip represented the 3rd time in less than 18 months that members of the North/South Appalachian Highway had traveled to D.C. to meet with elected leaders on this issue. Joining the travel team this year was Meg Lauerman, representing the Continental 1 Corridor, a bi-national direct route from Toronto to Miami, which includes the 219 N leg of the North/South Appalachian Highway. Continental 1 and the North/South Appalachian Highway have developed a strategic partnership intended to advance the shared goal of enhancing business development and mitigating safety issues along the route of common interest.

Highlights of the March 2011 visit included the introduction of legislation, H.R. 1218, by Congressman Bill Shuster (PA) to amend current legislation to once again allow the use of toll credits for Appalachian Development Highway System projects. Equally important was the presentation by Senator Casey (PA) of his letter to the Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee on the toll credit issue. Members of the North/South Appalachian Highway Coalition are following up with Congressional leaders in both the Senate and House to educate them on the toll credit issue and how it may affect their state’s ability to advance important transportation projects.