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A Resolution of the Council of the County of Allegheny urging the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to declare a moratorium on the acquisition of right-of-way properties until the Commission has identified a guaranteed funding source to cover the remaining costs of design and construction of the S.R. 51 to I-376 section of the Mon-Fayette Toll Road, and further urging the Governor to support such a moratorium.
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WHEREAS the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission plans to complete the Mon-Fayette Toll Road with the 24-mile section between S.R. 51 and I-376; and
WHEREAS the proposed route for this section passes through the boroughs of Jefferson Hills, West Mifflin, Dravosburg, Duquesne, Turtle Creek, Monroeville, North Braddock, Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, and the neighborhoods of Hazelwood, Greenfield and Oakland in the City of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS among these municipalities, the City of Pittsburgh and the Boroughs of Rankin, Braddock and Duquesne are currently classified as distressed municipalities under Act 47; and
WHEREAS, the current estimated budget for this section of the Mon-Fayette Toll Road is approximately $3.65 billion; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has not been able to identify a source of funding to cover their current shortfall of $3.4 billion for this segment of the project, despite years of concerted effort; and
WHEREAS, the Turnpike Commission does have sufficient funds available to initiate the acquisition of right-of-way properties, regardless of the uncertainty of future funding for construction; and
WHEREAS, if the Turnpike Commission were to proceed with acquiring right-of-way properties, these properties would be rendered tax-exempt in the process, and this could have significant negative revenue impacts upon communities that are already struggling with budgetary concerns; and; and
WHEREAS, uncertainty regarding when, if ever, the Turnpike Commission will acquire these right-of-way properties, together with an inability to predict precisely what properties might be acquired make it very difficult for the communities in the path of this proposed toll road to develop land-use plans and comprehensive strategies for economic development; and
WHEREAS, condemned properties, should they remain vacant for substantial periods of time, can negatively impact the communities in which they are located;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1.
Council hereby calls upon the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to declare a moratorium on the acquisition of right-of-way properties until the Commission has identified and made public one or more funding source(s) sufficient to cover the remaining costs of design and construction of the S.R. 51 to I-376 section of the Mon-Fayette Toll Road.
Section 2.
Council hereby urges Governor Rendell to support the moratorium on the acquisition of right-of-way properties until funding for the remaining costs of design and construction of the Mon-Fayette Toll Road have been fully committed.
Section 3. Severability. If any provision of this Resolution shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Resolution which shall be in full force and effect.