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"Riley Factor"
This article was featured in the August 2006
issue of Business Matters, our monthly
print newsletter.
One Down, One to Go
Chamber Chairman Steve Schumacher and I recently had
the pleasure of attending a ceremony for the
official completion of the U.S. Route 222 Expressway
between Reading and Lancaster.
PennDOT really put together a good event.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary
Allen Beihler, U. S. Representatives Tim Holden and
Jim Gerlach, State Senator Mike O’Pake and State
House Representative Sam Rohrer were on hand to
provide their comments relating to the project. As
I listened, there were a number of themes that were
repeated throughout the ceremony.
First, this project really took a long time to
complete. Discussion among Berks County planning
officials to improve this corridor began in the
1950s, think about that! Tim Holden remarked that
the project was being discussed back at a time when
he still had hair. No offense to Tim, but that
seems like quite awhile ago.
Next, the project had several starts and stops and
always for the same reason--lack of funds. However,
despite the starts and stops, we never gave up. In
fact, it helped galvanize our communitywide resolve
to get this thing done!
Also echoed throughout the comments was the unique
private/public partnership (222 Task Force) that was
formed in the early 90’s to help keep the project
going.
Persistent advocacy also played a critical role in
getting this project done. When our community was
told in 1996 there were not enough funds for the
project, we rallied together and made it clear to
our elected officials that was not acceptable.
I was also impressed that several of the speakers
singled out the Chamber for the role we played in
getting this project done. The chamber was thanked
several times for raising $80,000 from our
membership and contributing that money to help keep
the project going. Also, our, ah, “persistent
advocacy” was also mentioned lightheartedly several
times!
One down one to go.
Our organization should be proud to have played such
an important part in the realization of this
significant accomplishment, but there is always more
work to do. So now we turn our attention to the
next critical highway need—the 222 North corridor.
In the spirit of persistent advocacy, I recently
provided testimony at a public hearing on the draft
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Berks
County and emphasized the critical need for
improving the 222 North corridor all the way to
Interstate 78.
The TIP contains all the transportation projects in
Berks County that intend to use federal funds over
the next four years
It is expected the Transportation Improvement Plan
will include money to begin preliminary engineering
work for the 222 North corridor. The plan, once
approved by local officials, should receive PennDOT
approval before October 1, 2006.
At that point the 222 project will officially be on
the track. Your Chamber will be right there,
helping to push it along. |
