Transportation Sub-Committee

A meeting of the Somerset County Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Sub-Committee was held on February 6, 2007, at the office of VCS Group in Somerset, PA.

 

Those attending were:

 

                Ron Aldom                                         Brad Zearfoss

                Vernon Berkey                                 Kerri Burtner

                Chris Burtner

                Glenn E. Miller

                Roger Stern

                                                                

The Committee still wishes to focus on two areas initially. They are the Turnpike Entrance and US Route 219.

 

Turnpike Entrance

·                                                                 Discussion was had about a comment from Ben Vinzani, Somerset Boro Manager, stating, “we (Someset Boro, Somerset Township, Turnpike Commission) can come to an agreement.” That comment was made at the last Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee meeting.

·                                                                 The threat from PennDOT is that if no one takes ownership of the roads involved, their solution will be to install jersey barriers preventing left turns as you exit the toll booths. Not user friendly and not aesthetically pleasing for visitors.

·                                                                 The Committee wants to do a letter-writing campaign to the Boro, Township and Turnpike Commission expressing their views on the importance of implementing the five-legged insterection project. Committee members will approach businesses in that area and ask them to also participate in the effort.

 

US Route 219

·                                                                 The Committee would like to have an open forum in the Spring to update the public on the progress of this project.

·                                                                 The Committee wishes to keep the completion of US Route 219 as their first priority.

 

New Members

Committee members will contact the following businesses and ask that a representative from each one join this Committee:

 

1.                                                                           Barron Trucking – Chris Burtner

2.                                                                           CVS – Chris Burtner

3.                                                                           Eagle Concrete – Ron Aldom

4.                                                                           Fleetwood – Glenn Miller

5.                                                                           Herring Motor – Roger Stern

6.                                                                           J&J Truck Bodies – Chris Burtner

7.                                                                           New Enterprise – Chris Burtner

8.                                                                           Oester Trucking- Glenn Miller

9.                                                                           Seven Springs – Ron Aldom

10.                                                                       Snyders of Berlin - ?

 

The Commissioners will be asked to send an official letter of invitation to the companies/representatives who agree to serve.

 

The Committee would also like for the Commissioners to invite the following people to join the committee:

 

1.                                                                           Charles Buchanan, PA Turnpike Commission, Interchange Project Manager

2.                                                                           Joe Kellerman, local PennDOT representative

3.                                                                           Chris Allison, Southern Alleghenies Comm.

 

Vernon Berkey nominated Glenn Miller to serve as Chairman of this Committee.

 

Next Meeting

The meeting is scheduled for March 7, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. in he Commissioners’ Board Room.