Aug 7, 2003 By Josh Krysak 4 min read

WAYNESBURG – The development of a regional shopping center and a business park, as well as improvements to Route 21, Route 19 and Route 188, continue to be top transportation issues facing Greene County, according to testimonials given Wednesday. During a public meeting to receive testimony on project priorities for the 2005-2008 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), local residents and interested parties expressed their concerns for road projects and discussed solutions to some additional problems.

Ken Flack, transportation planner for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), presented figures concerning the long-range regional plan for a 10-county area that includes the city of Pittsburgh.

According to Flack, the 10-county area has 689 highway and bridge projects listed, with 29 of those in Greene County estimated to cost a total of about $40 million. Flack said all but six of the projects are expected to be completed by 2006, and $5 million in additional funding is needed to complete them. He said planning for the projects must keep funding in mind and that projects will continue to be re-prioritized.

“These are based on realistic funding targets. As new projects are added, other projects get re-prioritized,” Flack said.

The regional plan, which is required by the federal government for how gas-tax proceeds are to be spent, is updated every three years.

After meeting with the Public Participation Panel in June, the SPC heard from local residents about concerns for Greene County roads.

Bob McGurk, vice president of DeBartolo Property Group, which is working to develop the area around the Route 21 and Interstate 79 interchange, testified about a need for better access ramps at the intersection and the need for improvements along the Route 21 corridor.

He said safety is a concern and that mobility is needed in the area with the continued growth of the Evergreene Technology Park and the addition of a regional shopping center, anchored by a Wal-Mart. He said ground will be broken for the new center as early as December.

Other residents discussed trying to alleviate congestion at the intersection of Route 188 and Route 21 at the Sheetz gas station in Waynesburg.

John Young of Waynesburg said the problem continues to deteriorate as more traffic heads into Waynesburg each day.

“It could have been done 10 years ago and paid for 20 times by now,” Young said.

State Sen. J. Barry Stout (D-Bentleyville) told Young that the intersection has been one of his priorities for years, but resistance from some residents has foiled attempts to garner funding for the project.

“I had $8 million earmarked for the project, but action was delayed. I don’t want to have to live as long as Strom Thurmond to get this done. Please tell me what you want, Greene County,” Stout said.

Ann Bargerstock, county director of planning and development, said she will continue to stress to the SPC the Route 21 project from Masontown to Waynesburg as a top priority. She said that the intersection at the Sheetz gas station in Morrisville also will be a priority, as will alleviating safety concerns along Route 218 at a train crossing. She said she also will push for the inclusion of 10 bridges in the priorities in the next four years, including four covered bridges.

“They are a very strong part of our heritage here,” she said.

She said that while all the projects discussed are in various phases of planning and funding, the suggestions will be taken into account before additional plans are made.

“The purpose of the meeting was to get input form citizens, groups, organizations and government officials about what the community sees as needs in Greene County. I think we had some good feedback,” she said.

All testimony received at the meeting will be presented to the Public Participation Panel at a joint hearing of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and the State Transportation Commission in September.