South West Communities Chamber outlook discusses tolls, covid-19 and more

Officials from several communities banded together during a May 4 virtual meeting against the implementation of a toll on an I-79 bridge in Bridgeville.

The virtual meeting was part of the Southwest Communities Chamber of Commerce 2021 Community Outlook. Participants of the call included managers and administration officials from Bridgeville, Upper St. Clair, Scott, South Fayette, Carnegie, Collier and Heidelberg.

Several topics were discussed, including new developments coming to the areas and upcoming events. But when the topic of PennDOT’s proposed toll on the bridge came up, every official spoke against the plan.

Tolling the bridge is part of PennDOT’s plan to pay for a $1.6 billion to $2.2 billion project to rehabilitate nine interstate bridges across the state. The one at issue is located in Bridgeville and is expected to cost up to $150 million to widen the interchange and various improvements.

The state-wide project has been dubbed the Pathways Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership (P3) Initiative. The Pennsylvania P3 Board approved the initiative in November, which allowed PennDOT to consider different funding methods – including tolls – for the locations.

The toll on the Bridgeville bridge and interchange, therefore, could be in place as early as 2023 when project work is slated to begin.

So far, South Fayette and Bridgeville officials have taken formal action against the tolling plan.

But officials during the meeting said the impact could be far-reaching by changing travel patterns and putting more traffic along Route 50 as an alternative route.

Matt Serakowski, Upper St. Clair’s township manager, said PennDOT’s proposal to toll the bridge doesn’t make sense.

“While we’re not directly in the area of this, our residents use these routes to get to (I-79) to get to their businesses, to get to work … this is something that we knew we had to actively participate and get the word out and our objection to the proposal,” Serakowski said.

Lisha Mihalko, assistant secretary of Scott, said maintenance on the roads that will be used as alternate routes will need to be addressed and is of concern to towns surrounding the toll bridge.

State lawmakers, including Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-South Fayette, have recently introduced legislation that would fix public-private partnership law. The legislation would include provisions to halt PennDOT’s tolling proposal.

John Barrett, manager of South Fayette, and Joe Kauer, Bridgeville’s manager, expressed gratitude to surrounding communities for their support in PennDOT’s proposal.

Other topics discussed during the meeting included covid-19 relief money that is expected to come to townships in the coming months.

Many managers said they are discussing how to best use the money. They are also seeking clarity on how the money can be used legally.

According to the law, the stimulus money sent to local municipalities must be spent by the end of 2024 on projects that include reimbursement and expenses related to the pandemic. It can also be used as grants to assist small businesses, nonprofits and industries impacted by the pandemic, along with water, sewer and broadband projects. It cannot be spent to lower taxes or to pay into municipal pension funds.

Funding totals were based on population figures compiled by U.S. Senate Democrats. But other factors came into play as well. Some municipalities and cities are slated to receive large sums based on the amount of Community Development Block Grant funds for which communities qualify. That figure is based on median income levels.

Many managers in the meeting suggested using the money for various infrastructure projects, such as road repaving, ADA compliance projects and stormwater sewer improvements, etc.

Barrett said officials are discussing how to use the $1.5 million to stimulate South Fayette’s economy.

“We’re trying to find some creative ways to create some incentive for additional businesses to want to locate here or ways to use those funds as more of a local stimulus than just to pave some roads or fill some budget holes,” Barrett said.

Another topic of interest discussed during the meeting was ongoing development in townships represented.

Kyle Thauvette, Collier’s manager, said the township’s Sheetz gas station and restaurant is now open for business. The store is located along Washington Pike, or Route 50.

He said additional commercial space is available near the new Sheetz, adding that Burlington Coat Factory plans on moving into a portion of the old K-Mart building and a Chik Fil A restaurant is eying a site in the township.

Steve Beuter, manager of Carnegie, said the borough’s yearly paving program has recently been awarded, with work slated to begin in mid-summer. He also said Carnegie Park is expected to get a new shelter. Other projects include the completion of a $593,000 initiative that added a storm sewer along Broadway Street in the town’s business district.

A recording of Tuesday’s meeting can be found here.