—
One of my top priorities in Congress since day one has been the completion of Route 219 in Somerset County. It is very rare that a transportation corridor attracts near universal support from all levels of government, but Route 219 is a special project.
Not only will a completed Route 219 link Pennsylvania to Maryland, it will open up a direct north-south transportation corridor between Washington, D.C., and communities in Somerset and Bedford counties.
New markets for goods and services will open, and with them the promise of economic development and job creation.
Studies have shown that a completed Route 219 will create upward of 20,000 permanent jobs for our region.
Unfortunately, Route 219 has been mired in delays, with a major impediment being a section of law passed in the last highway bill that prohibits states such as Pennsylvania in the Appalachian Development Highway System from using toll credits as matching funds for federal transportation construction dollars.
This prohibition must be removed to proceed with completing Route 219. And in March, I introduced legislation to do just that.
As a senior member and subcommittee chairman on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I was successful in including my toll credits language into the upcoming highway bill, landmark legislation known as the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.
This critical legislation has been approved by the transportation committee and is expected to head to the floor for consideration by the full House of Representatives this week.
I appreciate the continued interest in Route 219 by newspapers in the region, as well as the continued pledges of support for the project by our senators and Republicans and Democrats in the Pennsylvania congressional delegation.
This week’s vote on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act is essential to the future of 219.
It’s vital that we pull together in the best interest of Somerset and Bedford counties to pass this bill and get moving on Route 219.
Congressman Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, represents the 9th Congressional District, which includes parts of Cambria, Somerset, Bedford and Indiana counties.
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