U.S. ROUTE 219 NORTH PROJECT IS NOW GARRETT COUNTY'S TOP HIGHWAY PRIORITY

The U.S. Route 219 North project is now listed as number one on Garrett County's list of highway priorities, at least on paper.  For several years, it was in second place, with the Oakland bypass in the number one spot.  The southern project is now number two.  The switch in positions, however, does not mean the bypass is less important, County officials stressed during a nearly one-hour impromptu meeting at the County Commissioners' office on May 4th. 

"I'm not saying that the bypass isn't important; I'm not saying I don't support it; I'm not suggesting it get killed or be slipped through to the bottom," said Director Jim Hinebaugh, Garrett County Department of Economic Development.  "The reality is we're being asked to move this section of road (219 North) as our top priority, on paper, for the time being, to show that it is important to us."

In addition to him and Commissioners Fred Holliday and Ernie Gregg, those in attendance included Senator George Edwards; Delegate Wendell Beitzel; Oakland Mayor Peggy Jamison and Councilman Jay Moyer; Director John Nelson, Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development; and local resident, David Moe.  Hinebaugh and Moe are members of The Greater Cumberland Committee (TGCC).

Hinebaugh requested the meeting and the change in priorities.  He noted the TGCC has made the U.S. Rtoute 219 North/South Corridor its top priority in terms of projects.  "When I'm talking about the North/South Corridor, I'm talking about 219 North of Interstate-68, Interstate-68, and east of Cumberland, 220 South," the Director said.

He indicated that it was a perfect project for the TGCC to take on, as it represents the three counties directly affected by the project:  Garrett, Allegany, and Mineral (WV).  Garrett County's portion of the Corridor project involves 2.54 miles of Route 219 North, from I-68 in Grantsville to the Pennsylvania line.

"To The Greater Cumberland Committee's credit, they've made a lot of progress in elevating the awareness of this project on the federal level and even getting some pretty good support," Hinebaugh said about the group's lobbying efforts.

During a TGCC North/South Corridor Workgroup meeting, however, it was noted that those efforts would be more effective if the project were the top priority for all three counties, as well as Somerset County, Pennsylvania.  Hinebaugh said Allegany County has already made the Route 220 leg its top priority in the state's Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP). 

"I think our top priority in the CTP is the Oakland bypass," the Director said.  The TGCC, therefore, asked Hinebaugh and Moe to talk to the Commissioners about changing that ranking.

"The rationale being that it's kind of hard to lobby Congress for funds to build the North/South Corridor if it isn't our top priority, particularly at the state level," Hinebaugh said.  Another rationale for the priority change is Governor Martin O'Malley's and other state officials' lack of support for the 2.4 mile Oakland bypass. 

In addition, state funding for the final phases of the Oakland project has been deferred until the economy improves.  In contrast, federal money for the 219 initiative may be available.  "We're getting closer and closer to getting funding for the North/South Corridor," Hinebaugh said.

Based on those and other realities, therefore, the Director said he did not think Garrett County would be "giving up anything" by designating Route 219 North as its top priority.  He noted that the County could also come back another year and make the bypass number one again.

Gregg and others noted that if federal funding is allocated to the Corridor, Maryland would only be required to give a 20% match for the 219 project, compared to 100% of the remaining cost of the bypass.

"Both projects need to be done," Edwards said.  But, he added, roads will not be built anywhere in Maryland for a long time without some sort of tax increase/revenue enhancements.  But if the federal government comes through for the Corridor, that project could occur in the not-too-distance future.

Edwards agreed with Hinebaugh that the County could always ask the state to list the bypass first in the CTP.  The Senator noted that CTP's are five-year plans, but the state changes them every year.

"In reality, does it really matter what position these are in?" Delegate Beitzel asked about the two local projects.  He also questioned what the down side would be in listing the bypass as number two.

Hinebaugh indicated the only negative aspect would be the public's perception that the bypass is not as important as it once was to the County.

Oakland officials, however, were concerned that if the bypass dropped on the County's priority list, it might be eliminated altogether.  Moyer said the bypass has been his number one priority since 1987.  During his 24 years on the Council, Moyer said he has seen projects not even on priority lists get funded and the bypass get "shoved back down."  Moyer said it is important that the Oakland project remain at the top of the list.

"It's not just a personal issue," he said. "It fits into a long-term plan that we developed long ago.  It's just a piece of the puzzle to grow the southern end of the County and develop and create jobs that the people expect."  Moyer indicated the change might give O'Malley and other officials an excuse to ditch the bypass altogether.  "My fear is we're going to fall right back into the basement and have to claw our way back out," Moyer said.

Hinebaugh said he understood the importance of the bypass to the Town's growth and infrastructure.  "The political reality right now is the bypass isn't going anywhere," the Director said.  "It took a lot of work of a lot of people to get to where it is, and I'm not saying that couldn't happen again."

After much more discussion, Gregg and Holliday approved the Director's request to make the 219 North project the County's top priority.  Commissioner Denny Glotfelty was not able to attend the meeting.

"I'm okay with supporting the upgrading of 219 North without degrading the position of the Oakland bypass," Gregg said.  "This is something that's rational and doable now.  I'm suggesting that the County put its support behind the 219 North project."

Hinebaugh noted that all TGCC is looking for is a piece of correspondence from the Commissioners that says 219 North is Garrett County's top transportation priority.

Holliday said the Oakland bypass is a project he has supported for several years, even before he was elected commissioner.  He said he would continually support the bypass.  "If it comes to the point where the state has the money to do that [project] with, I'll be there 100%," Holliday said.  "We're not going to dump that."  Hinebaugh said his office would be there to support the project as well.