Monday, December 20, 2004

County Council Vote on Resolution on Mon-Fayette Tollway

Event Date: 12/21/2004 5:00 PM

SIERRA CLUB NOTICE BOARD, County Council Resolution on Mon-Fayette Tollway at the County Courthouse, Gold Room 4th Floor, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219


The Allegheny County Council is considering a resolution in support of the Mon-Fayette Toll Road.


PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND SPEAK OUT. If you cannot attend, please take time to spread the word. Young people especially are critically important to this process.


Elected official after elected official claims that keeping young people in the region is one of our most critical needs. Will this project do that? Will saddling young people with this level of debt service and failing to address other critical transportation needs serve any of us well? Please make your voices heard!


All planning to speak at the meeting must sign up by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20. Do so by filling out this form http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/council/meetings/comment.asp or can contact John Mascio, Chief Clerk at 412-350-6490 or by Fax at 412-350-6499.


For more information, feel free to contact Heather Sage at 412-258-6681.

Resolution 1769-04 -- A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, supporting the Mon Valley/Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway project, particularly the PA Route 51 to I-376 component that is expected to receive environmental clearance from the federal government before the end of 2004, and recognizing the project's importance in promoting economic revitalization in Southwestern Pennsylvania.


Though the County Council resolution is largely symbolic, it is critical that the public come out and speak out in opposition of this project. We need to hold our elected officials accountable at every level, and let them know that this region MUST prioritize its transportation needs. This project and its $1.891 BILLION price tag will have serious, complex, and long-lasting impacts beyond the cost. (The cost for this portion of the project does not include debt service, which will significantly increase the cost.) The current revenue available for the project totals only $291 million, about 15 percent of the total cost.


For detailed information on how the money that is to go to this project could be BETTER USED, see this report: http://www.pennfuture.org/mf/brunot0604.pdf


For detailed information on how this toll road will hinder economic development, add to congestion; and result in incredibly irresponsible use of public funds, see this report: http://www.pennfuture.org/files/event_camp/monfayettereportb_42402.pdf


For detailed information on how this toll road will fail to benefit construction labor trades, see this report: http://www.pennfuture.org/files/event_camp/monfayettereportb_42402.pdf



For detailed information on how the analyses the PA Turnpike Commission used were based on false assumptions and flawed, outdated data, see this report: http://www.pennfuture.org/files/event_camp/monfayettereportb_42402.pdf


Location: County Courthouse, Gold Room 4th floor, 436 Grant St. (downtown)


Contact: Heather 412-258-6681

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