PENNDOT is a Hit at the Somerset County Fair

The Somerset County Fair was held from August 18th through the 24th. The U.S. 219 Improvements projectteam were on hand answering questions and providing information about the two U.S. 219 Improvements projects that stretch from I-68 in Maryland to Meyersdale and from Meyersdale to Somerset. An aerial fly-through was provided showing the current study alternatives in the northern section, so that attendees could get a visual idea of where the proposed road may be placed and the different sizes of bridges and structures that would be constructed. In addition, various photographs depicting before and after visual renderings of the road at different points in the study area were provided.
The Project Team also sponsored two raffles for kids and adults. The winner of the kid's back to-school backpack was Angela Wilford of Meyersdale, and Carol Lehman of Berlin won the adult basket full of gifts. They are shown to the right accepting their prizes with Dave Sherman, PENNDOT Project Manager for both the north and south U.S. 219 Projects; Joel Smith, of Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc., Project Manager for the Meyersdale to Somerset Project; and Ken Rich, of McCormick, Taylor, and Associates, Public Involvement Specialist for the I-68 in Maryland to Meyersdale Project.

Local Farmers

The data obtained through the interviews will be analyzed and incorporated into a Farmlands Assessment Report, which will be presented to the Agricultural Lands Condemnation Approval Board (ALCAB). The ALCAB, an independent administrative board, has approval authority over the condemnation of productive agricultural land for highways and waste disposal projects. If required for this project, ALCAB will approve condemnation if it determines that there is no reasonable and prudent alternative to the use of productive agricultural land. The Farmlands Assessment Report should be completed by late spring or early summer 2003.

Phase 2 Alignments

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gather additional information. Throughout this period, the Project Team used the information gathered to modify the alignments to minimize impacts to farms, residences, businesses, and environmental resources while ensuring that engineering is the highest quality possible to provide a safe and efficient four-lane highway.
The Project Team is now conducting a detailed analysis of each alignment. The results of this analysis will be presented in a Draft EIS, scheduled for completion in spring 2003. The Draft EIS will compare the environmental and socioeconomic impacts, as well as construction costs, of each alternative. The Draft EIS will be distributed to consulting agencies and made available to the public for review and comment. After agency and public comments on the Draft EIS are received, PENNDOT and the FHWA will identify a preferred alignment.