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Source: The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.迷你倉Sept. 30--SOMERSET -- Groups varying from advocates of an improved Route 219 at the county level to those fighting for a limited access four-lane from Canada to Miami hope to capitalize on a high-tech approach the state is using to gather public input.In a campaign started by Meg Lauerman, executive director of Continential One, anyone interested in seeing an improved north-south highway is being asked to go to PennDOT's website to urge action.It's an approach being promoted by Somerset County Commissioner John Vatavuk,Of primary interest is the7-mile stretch from Meyersdale to the Pennsylvania-Maryland state line and Route 68."We're asking folks to let the governor know what we all see, that this section of Route 219 needs to be completed for the safety of the motorists and economic development of western Pennsylvania," Lauerman said in a telephone interview from her Buffalo, N.Y., office."They're (PennDOT) asking what is important to us and we want everyone to let them know," she said.Residents have until Oct. 7 to provide input to state officials as PennDOT develops an update to the long-range plan which determines what highways and bridge projects are addressed over the next several years."The residents can provide input by the website, over the phone or on paper," said Erin Waters-Trasatt, PennDOT spokeswoman in Harrisburg.The state wants to hear from people regarding any safety concern or what they think is a needed improvement, she said."It can be, 'we need a stop sign here, or we need a bike path here,' " Waters-Trasatt said. "This really lets you zoom in because people know what's in front of their house rather than someone20 miles away."Vatavuk has passed the website information on to everyone he can think of in the hopes of getting PennDOT's attention."I think it's a great thing," he said of the opportunity. "We thought if there's enough of a public outcry, we can maybe accomplish the same thing we accomplished the last time."The Somerset to Meyersdale stretch of highway was in the works for years, but came to a halt in 2005 when the federal government determined that toll credits could not be used to pay the state's20 percent share of the project.Toll credits were a longtime system used to allow states to earn credits for highway improvements made without federal help. In Pennsylvania, toll credits were earned through improvements to the turnpike.Through years of pressure, largely by Vatavuk and others from Somerset County, the federal law was changed to allow 100 percent of the project to be funded with Appalachian Highway funds.But the change included a clause eliminating 文件倉he special highway fund, which was set aside nearly 50 years ago to benefit the 13 states along the Appalachian range.While Pennsylvania still has about $300 million in the fund, about half has been targeted for a project to the east, county officials said.Maryland has targeted funding to complete the link to the Pennsylvania line, but money for the final leg in Pennsylvania is not available, state officials have said.The push to get the project onPennDOT's 12-year plan comes as work is getting underway on construction of an 11 mile four-lane limited access Route 219 from Somerset to Meyersdale.The work, expected to cost $305 million, being paid for with the federal Appalachian funds, will be completed in three phases with the new route to be open to traffic by 2018.Notice to prime contractor Joseph B. Fay, Co., of Tarentum was given byPennDOT for the first phase earlier this month and some initial work has already begun, said District 9 press officer Tara Callahan-Henry."The project is in construction," Callahan-Henry said. "Most people can't see it. The work isn't on the (current) 219 route, it isn't impacting traffic."A partnering meeting held Thursday involved designers of the highway, consultants and the contractor to iron out any last minute questions.Similar meetings likely will be held throughout the first phase, which involves site preparation for eventual paving of the route, she said."The contractor is still mobilizing, moving equipment in, water testing, construction of sedimentation basin," Callihan-Henry said.Work is now underway in Summit, Brothersvalley, Black and Somerset townships. Specifically, the areas of current work are Fogeltown Road between Golf Course Road and Crossroad School Road."When complete, the project will complete the northern end of the Meyersdale Bypass in Summit Township to the southern end of the existing U.S. 219 four-lane in Somerset Township," she said.Along with earthwork, this first phase will include construction of bridges.Bids for the two additional phases will be sought over the next few years.To be heardTo participate in PennDOT's online 12-year plan:--Go to penndotstc. metroquest.com--Select "prioritize" (orange tab) then under suggest another priority insert complete Route 219 as four-lane.--Go to teal tab under under "other choices" and insert highway needed at major intersections.Kathy Mellott covers transportation issues for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ kathymellotttd.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) 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