A proposal to make the proposed $418 million Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway eligible for federal funding was "well received" by the Appalachian Regional Commission and could be put to a vote in February, the panel's alternate federal co-chairman said Friday.
A request by Gov. Ed Rendell to swap 13 existing miles of the Appalachian Highway Development System to help pay for the Thruway project was discussed among the 13 ARC state representatives at a two-day conference this week in Tupelo, Miss.
The commission is responsible for allocating federal funds for road projects in the Appalachian highway system, which was formed to generate economic development in isolated, rural areas by connecting 3,090 miles within Appalachia to the interstate system.
James Ritzman, deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, presented the plan to swap a proposed project in Centre and Clearfield counties to fund the CSVT road project.
"It was an excellent presentation that was well-received by the commission," ARC federal co-chairman Rick Peltz said.
ARC members asked about the importance of building a bypass from Routes 11-15 in Snyder County to Route 147 in Northumberland, including the amount of current truck and car traffic.
Peltz, a former PennDOT deputy secretary for local and area transportation who was appointed to ARC in 2002 by President Bush, said he informed the panel that the Thruway project has a substantial connection with the NAFTA corridor from Buffalo to Miami.
Although Ritzman was able to convey the importance of the road project to the region and that Snyder and Northumberland counties are as rural as Center and Clearfield counties, Peltz said more information about whether the Thruway fits with the Appalachian highway system's parameters is needed.
"There was nothing negative," Peltz said, "but the commission wants to look at it a little more closely."
The proposal has been referred to the commission's policy committee for review and will likely be on the next ARC meeting agenda for a vote in late February.
"This is a strong step forward for the CSVT," said U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-10, of Dimock.
"We continue to be encouraged by its progress. Our office is closely monitoring these developments and will continue working with state and local officials to support efforts to include the CSVT as part of the Appalachian Development Highway System. We will use all tools available to make sure the CSVT becomes a reality."
Area Thruway proponents said Carney was instrumental in convincing state and federal officials to move the project forward after it was stalled by PennDOT earlier this summer because of a lack of money.
"The project was stuck until Congressman Carney got involved, and his leadership has made all of this happen," said Joe McGranaghan, chairman of the Susquehanna Valley Transportation Task Force. "Without him, this project would still be at square zero, frozen and solid."
"Congressman Carney has done a great job of bringing the appropriate players to the table to move the CSVT out of hibernation. said Ryan Unger, senior program analyst with the SEDA-Council of Governments. "More has occurred to move this project forward over the past few months than in quite some time."
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