Road work ahead? Area could benefit from stimulus funds

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January 12, 2009

BY BERNIE HORNICK The Tribune-Democrat Mon Jan 12, 2009, 12:08 AM EST

Overdue repair work – not brand-new highways – seems to be the region’s role in the drive to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.

Congress is just beginning to tinker with a construction bill stretching into the hundreds of billions of dollars and favored by President-elect Barack Obama.

Early on, it appears that likely regulations for “shovel-ready” projects and matching state and/or local funds will restrict what gets built.

Obama already has warned against earmarks – congressional pet projects – being inserted into the stimulus bill.

“Is it a good thing? Yes, it’s going to rebuild America,” said Matt Mazonkey, spokesman for U.S. Rep. John Murtha.

“Can we say that everyone is going to be driving on a brand-new bridge or road in five years? No.”

The widening of Route 219 between Somerset and Meyersdale appears closest to qualifying for the stimulus package among potential road projects in Cambria and Somerset counties.

But whether the 219 project qualifies for the stimulus funding could depend on the definition of “shovel-ready.”

PennDOT is working to lock up the right of way for the 219 project, which can take up to 18 months to complete, PennDOT district spokeswoman Tara Callahan said. Utility work also is on PennDOT’s 2009 schedule.

Rich Kirkpatrick, press secretary for PennDOT in Harrisburg, said, “It’s likely the priority would go to improvement projects – improving bridges, safety.”

The needs are definitely there, especially in terms of bridges, which have a backlog in excess of $11 billion.

“One of the requirements here is that we move quickly,” which he said argues more in favor of repair and upgrading work than new construction.

Kirkpatrick didn’t feel comfortable citing any specific job that will be on the to-do list.

“We continue to work with our districts across the state and our planning partners to identify projects,” he said.

Kirkpatrick pledged that “PennDOT will be ready to move quickly once those details are finalized.”

He said that even if a local road does not get built with stimulus money, it could benefit by moving up the priority list as other work gets done.

If Congress requires matching money, that also could be an obstacle, with the state and some localities facing red ink as the economy wobbles.

The typical share on PennDOT road-building work is 80 percent federal matched with 20 percent state.

However it shakes out, local congressmen are squarely behind a national proposal.

“Congressman Murtha wholeheartedly supports an infrastructure stimulus plan that puts Americans to work and rebuilds our aging roads, bridges, rail lines and community centers,” Mazonkey said.

A spokesman for Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, said the congressman realizes the importance of the legislation.

“Congressman Shuster looks forward to working with the incoming administration to see how the quality of life for the people of Pennsylvania and the nation can be improved through strengthening our roads, bridges and water systems,” Jeff Urbanchuk said.

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