Officials Announce $35 Million in State Funding for U.S. Route 219

Officials gathered in the Commissioners’ Board Room at the Somerset County Office Building on July 8, 2008, to announce $35 million in state funding has been secured for the construction of U.S. Rt. 219 from Somerset to Meyersdale. The funding was part of a $350 million bond issue that was part of the recently approved state budget.

State Senators Rich Kasunic and John Wozniak, and State Representative Bob Bastian were on hand along with Somerset County Commissioners Pam Tokar-Ickes, John Vatavuk, and Jim Marker, to announce the funding. Also present were Mark Critz, District Director for Congressman John Murtha and Ron Nocco, Constituent Services Representative for Congressman Bill Shuster.

The $35 million will leverage a portion of the federal funding designated for Rt. 219 through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Senator Kasunic said it was the first time in his 25 year political career that he has seen a bi-partisan effort at the local, state and federal levels for a single project. Commissioner Tokar-Ickes reflected the words and thoughts of all the elected officials when she recognized the efforts of the County residents who sent thousands of emails, mailed hundreds of letters, and placed many phone calls to Harrisburg to show our leaders their unwavering public support for the completion of U.S. Route 219.

Somerset County Commissioner Jim Marker; Rep. Bob Bastian; Senators Rich Kasunic and John Wozniak; and County Commissioners Pam Tokar-Ickes and John Vatavuk. (Also present but out of the photo frame was Ron Nocco representing Cong. Bill Shuster and Mark Critz representing Cong. John Murtha.)