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WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission plans to complete the Mon-Fayette Toll Road with the 24 mile section between State Route 51 and Interstate 376; and
WHEREAS, the proposed route 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, the Boroughs of Braddock, Duquesne and Rankin are currently distressed communities under Act 47; and
WHEREAS, the current estimated budget for the remaining sections of the Mon-Fayette Toll Road is approximately $3.65 billion, and the budget for this section is approximately $2.7 billion; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has not been able to identify a source of funding to cover their current budget shortfall of $3.4 billion, despite years of concerted effort; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania 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, the municipalities and school districts in the path of the proposed toll road can ill afford to sacrifice properties from the tax rolls with no guarantee of prompt economic return to their communities; and
WHEREAS, the communities in the path of this proposed toll road are unable to develop land-use plans and comprehensive strategies for economic development while the uncertainty of the road's final design and construction persists; and
WHEREAS, it is our belief that economic redevelopment and the formulation of sustainable transportation and land use plans in these communities are of paramount importance to the future of our region; and
WHEREAS, we call upon the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to postpone any decision to proceed with acquisition of right-of-way properties until a fully public review process has examined the proposed plan for property acquisition, including an accurate list of properties to be acquired, a true calculation of the property tax impact to affected public entities and the Commissions plan for property maintenance following acquisition and prior to construction; and
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we the City Council of the City of Pittsburgh do encourage the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to consider a moratorium of the acquisition of right-of-way properties until 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 has been identified; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that WE THE City Council of the City of Pittsburgh urge Governor Edward 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.