The Sheepskin Trail receives boost
An agreement has been reached for a design change that could help push forward construction of The Sheepskin Trail. The Sheepskin Trail, also called the American Discovery Trail for its function of linking trails between the east and west, will begin in Dunbar Township, pass through Dunbar Borough and North Union Township and then run into Uniontown.
Last month, Tammy Shell reported to the Fayette County Transportation Alliance that when it was discovered that the trail route coming in to Dunbar had to cross a live railroad, the project could have meant a $3 million to $4 million increase to build a bridge. However, Shell told the alliance Tuesday that there is an agreement to change the route to go farther along the rail line, which should only be a small increase in cost. The cost increase will also mean an additional $10,000 for Widmer Engineering for the design change.
Shell said the county commissioners have to approve the extra design cost. Once construction begins, it will take two construction seasons.
In other discussion, the alliance reviewed an altered mission statement. In addition to working toward the completion of all segments of the Mon/Fayette Expressway, the statement also mentions as goals advocating the repair of Route 21 in Fayette County and the replacement of the Masontown Bridge and supports the completion of the West Virginia portion of the Mon/ Fayette Expressway to Interstate 68.
Other goals include participating in land use planning discussion regarding the Mon/Fayette Expressway interchange areas, supporting a variety of county public transportation programs, including issues dealing with public transit, water, rail, trail development and maintenance and the county airport; working to insure the public is receiving accurate and timely transportation information and correct any misconception or incorrect information and encourage the state Department of Transportation to embrace context sensitive design in all transportation projects.
The alliance is a grassroots-advocacy group concerned with the county’s transportation infrastructure.
Regarding the Mon/Fayette Expressway, Jo Lofstead with the office of state Rep. H. William DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, said the alliance must remain “ever vigilant” regarding the Uniontown-to-Brownsville link of the highway. Lofstead said DeWeese has concerns because the Luzerne Township and Washington County sections of the link have not yet received funding. She said the Alliance needs to be ready to advocate for full funding, adding that the proposed new bridge over the Monongahela River will be expensive.
Jim Marzullo, chairman of FAECO, Fayette Expressway Completion Organization, said there was a meeting in January with officials from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and PTC officials said they are “fully committed” to the entire link, including the Luzerne Township section and expect money to be available in 2006 and to have the link completed in 2009. “We have to continue to be diligent. We can’t put our guard down until we are riding on concrete,” Marzullo said.
Lofstead said since the state budget process has just begun, there hasn’t been any discussion of a funding amount for the project this year.