County Commissioners Ask Governor Wolf to Intervene in Route 8 Study

| February 3, 2018

FRANKLIN, Pa. – Venango County Commissioners have drafted a letter asking Governor Wolf to intervene on their behalf regarding a study currently being conducted by a PennDOT consultant that looks at reducing State Route 8 from a four-lane expressway down to a two-lane access road south of Franklin.

“This highway is vital to the future economic growth of Venango County and maintaining the four-lane expressway is imperative to the economic revitalization of Venango County and the Northwest Region,” according to the letter, signed by all three Venango County Commissioners.

The letter, released Friday, is addressed to Governor Tom Wolf and copied to PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards and Department of Community & Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin, as well local elected officials including Representative Lee James and Senator Scott Hutchinson.

In the letter, the Venango County Commissioners ask that Governor Wolf intervenes on their behalf to ensure that State Route 8 remain four lanes in order to capitalize on plans to develop Venango Regional Airport as a regional freight hub in addition to the following items:

  • Route 8 provides Interstate 80 traffic access to the heart of Venango County, including points north like Titusville, Tionesta and Warren.
  • Route 8 provides critical access to Interstate 80 for regional freight generators.
  • Route 8 directly links Interstate 80 to important economic assets like the Venango Regional Airport and the Sandycreek Industrial Park.
  • Venango County’s position as a central location within the region for business and freight traffic is compromised without strong connections to Interstate 80 and Interstate 79.
  • Route 8 provides a critical emergency evacuation route for Pennsylvania residents

Emily Lewis, Executive Director of the county’s economic development authority supports the Commissioner’s request, “At a time when the county should be focusing its efforts on building the infrastructure necessary for business growth and retention, it instead finds itself fighting to keep the infrastructure it already has in place,” said Lewis.

PennDOT recently announced a public meeting to allow for public input regarding the study. The meeting is scheduled for February 8th, 2018 from 6 PM – 8 PM at the Franklin Area Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium at 246 Pone Lane in Franklin.


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