Western Pa. lawmakers call for increased service at locks and dams on Allegheny River

Western Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation is lobbying for increased maintenance and, in some cases, increased service levels for locks and dams on the Allegheny River.

U.S. Reps. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Centre County, and U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and John Fetterman, D-Braddock, sent a letter Monday to the Army Corps of Engineers outlining concerns about commercial and recreational access along the Allegheny River.

They also are seeking to hold off any potential cuts in service that some locks and dams might face.

Under current service levels, Lock 2 at Highland Park and Lock 3 in the Barking section of Plum on the Allegheny River would face cuts to operational hours and may force many commercial operators to choose alternative means of transport, according to a news release.

Lawmakers — who also include U.S. Reps Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall; John Joyce, R-Altoona; Mike Kelly, R-Butler; and Summer Lee, D-Swissvale — said cutting service will constrict the economy of the Allegheny Valley and stymie economic growth in the region.

“Any cuts in service will impact commercial and recreational boaters’ ability to move up and down the Allegheny River and prevent future economic development throughout the corridor,” the letter said. “Pausing any action that would reduce access and stymie growth will help our region maintain a robust and diverse economy centered on our river system.”

In August, the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers were designated as a new Marine Highway Route by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Allegheny River is over 315 miles long and includes a watershed area of 11,747 square miles.

Reschenthaler said the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers are critical to domestic manufacturing and supporting barge traffic of raw materials such as steel, aggregates and metallurgical coal.

Locks and dams in Southwestern Pennsylvania have been recipients of federal investment as of late. The Montgomery Locks and Dam in Beaver County has been allocated $857 million for repairs and modernization thanks to the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law. The Pittsburgh area received nearly one-third of all funds allocated for inland waterways from the infrastructure law.

The lawmakers also believe service levels need to be increased for Lock 4 in the Natrona neighborhood of Harrison and Lock 5 in South Buffalo (often called the Schenley dam). Those have only one daily shift, while Locks 6 through 9 upriver are run by appointment only.

The letter acknowledges that both commercial and recreational traffic took a hit during the pandemic, but the lawmakers said they believe there is evidence that maintaining or increasing service at these locks will yield higher traffic.