Sep 22, 2005 By Amy Karpinsky 3 min read

A wish list of transportation improvement projects for Fayette County will be presented Friday in Pittsburgh during testimony before the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. “We have many more projects than money,” said Jo Lofstead, aide to state Rep. H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg), who pointed out that only $55 million will be allocated toward the transportation plan for the next two years. However, she added that if you don’t ask for something, you will never get it.

“If you ask for it you probably won’t get it, but if you don’t ask for it, you definitely won’t get it. The only way to get them done is to keep bringing them up,” Lofstead said.

Lofstead’s comments were made during a meeting Tuesday of the Fayette County Transportation Alliance. During the meeting, Myron Hoskins rehearsed the testimony that he will give during the SPC hearing. Hoskins is the co-chair of the Fayette County Public Participation Panel, which previously held a public hearing to gain testimony about what transportation projects should be given top priority for the county.

When Hoskins takes center stage to present his 15 minutes of testimony, he will speak about projects dealing with the three issues of safety, maintenance and economic development.

Hoskins said the number one priority for the county remains completion of the Mon/Fayette Expressway. Construction of the 15-mile Uniontown-to-Brownsville link is slated to begin next year.

Hoskins said other highway projects needed to alleviate safety concerns include improving Route 21, Route 711, Route 31, Route 40, Route 51 and the Route 119 entrance of the University Technology Park.

Other priority projects of which Hoskins will speak include upgrading of the Fredericktown Ferry, widening of New Salem Road and construction of the Matthew Drive extension in South Union Township.

Hoskins also mentioned the need for replacement of the Masontown Bridge, the Memorial Bridge and the Evans Manor Bridge. His testimony will also include a lengthy list of other county bridges that need repaired or replaced, mention of improvements to the Connellsville Airport, and the need to construct FAECO Drive and Intuition Parkway, both near SCI-Fayette.

Finally, safety studies for Routes 40, 119, 381 and 21 will be mentioned in his testimony, as well as a proposal to widen Route 40.

“Yes, our needs are enormous,” Hoskins said at the end of the presentation.

Muriel Nuttall, co-chair of the PPP, said there are way too many projects and not enough money, but the testimony needs to be given anyway. “We managed to include all the testimony (we received), which is our goal,” she said.

Friday’s hearing, which will include testimony from each of the 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties, is being held to gain input for projects to be placed on the 2007 to 2010 Transportation Improvement Project (TIP), which is part of a larger 12-year plan.

The TIP is a specific, four-year program of transportation projects in the various stages of development to receive state and federal funding in southwestern Pennsylvania. SPC develops this program in collaboration with the state Department of Transportation, county and city planning departments, as well as transit authorities. It is updated every two years and amended as needed between cycles as projects are completed or moved up to the next phase of development.

The TIP must be balanced each year within the region’s projected revenues.

Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites will also be given 15 minutes to present testimony on Friday, following Hoskins’ presentation.