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Motion of the Council of Allegheny County urging the Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to vote in favor of Senate Resolution 337, introduced by Senator Orie, and the companion House Resolution introduced by Representative Turzai limiting the Commonwealth's further expenditures on the North Shore Connector Project.
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WHEREAS, the original North Shore Connector project cost presented to this Council was estimated at over $381 million, of which the County of Allegheny would have to contribute three and one third percent or $12.7 million; and
WHEREAS, the original project presented to this Council included the Convention Center Line, a 0.3-mile light rail line from Steel Plaza station to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center; and
WHEREAS, the current final cost of the project is $435 million with $348 million in funding to come from the federal government, $72.5 million from the Commonwealth, and $14.5 million from the county, to be paid in installments through 2010, when the 1.2-mile line is to be completed; and
WHEREAS, the Port Authority has eliminated the Convention Center Line from this project due to cost overruns, and has also eliminated the Connector's proposed service to the Community College of Allegheny County's Allegheny Campus; and
WHEREAS, on July 12, 2006, Council passed, by a 10-3 vote, Bill No. 2709-06, which indicated that Council would commit $0 to the North Shore Connector until such time as the Port Authority adds the Allegheny Campus of CCAC to the North Shore Connector, and justifies the requests for funding for this project from the County; and
WHEREAS, County Council has still not received formal notice of a commitment by the Port Authority to include the Community College Allegheny Campus in the North Shore Connector project;
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY,
That remains the sense of the Council of Allegheny County that exposing the taxpayers of the Commonwealth and the County to further liability due to any additional cost overruns is imprudent, unfair, and unwarranted, particularly given the continuing limitation of the scope of the project.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS FURTHER MOVED BY THE COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY,
That the Council urges all Members of the General Assembly to vote in favor of Senate Resolution 337, introduced by Senator Orie and the companion House Resolution introduced by Representative Turzai to limit the Commonwealth's spending on the North Shore Connector Project.