Published: May 10, 2008 11:01 pm            

Four-lane may boost the area's economy

EBENSBURG — Imagine a trip to a Steelers’ game, the Phipps Conservatory or the Pittsburgh International Airport taking little more than an hour.

A four-lane Route 22 to Pittsburgh will provide untold possibilities, say regional economic development and transportation officials.

Possibilities exist for Johnstown to become a bedroom community for workers enjoying the relatively low cost of housing here while working in one of the state’s largest cities, said Randy Frye, a professor and the chairman of business administrator at St. Francis University, Loretto.

“It will be wonderful, I have driven that road for years, this will be a real economic doom for the region,” said Frye.

He estimated that with current highway conditions the trip from Johnstown to Pittsburgh often can take more than two hours.

The benefits of a four-lane Route 22 reducing congestion while cutting the time of what has long been a tedious trip means more people will head west for shopping and sports and cultural events, Frye said.

It also means points east toward Johnstown will become much more attractive to Pittsburgh business and industries and private citizens.

“From an economic development point of view, it could create the opportunity for Johnstown to become a bedroom community to Pittsburgh,” he said. “National census shows people now travel further to work.”

With a four-lane shortening travel time, the Johnstown - Cambria County will become more attractive to those in points to the west, said Dave Belz, senior transportation planner with the Cambria County Planning Commission.

“There is a possibility of economic improvement heading east, it will be much easier in access and once the work is all done it’s going to be a safer highway,” Belz said.

Traffic on Route 22 through the central part of Cambria County continue to increase, something which should continue to bump up with a four-lane in place, said Dave Hirko, Jackson Township manager.

“The more things we can connect to, the better the region will be,” Hirko said. “Right now Route 22 is the most traveled road in our region, 22 is a life line to this large city in our state.”

Highway’s are the major component in creating opportunity and with Johnstown becoming a hub for defense and technology, a four-lane Route 22 has the potential of drawing light industry and technology closer to Cambria County, Frye said.

Now days a trip to Pittsburgh is something most people plan, Frye said. But a four-lane to Allegheny County could well turn into an impulse trip.

“I often thought that road was more important than Route 219 for economic development to Cambria County,” he said.

        

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