Pittsburgh Congressmen Pressing for Funds to Repair Tri-State River Locks and Dams

McKeesport Daily News
24 January 2011
By Patrick Cloonan

Despite a cost-cutting sentiment among many in Washington, a bi-partisan effort is being pressed anew by area members of Congress for funds for long-delayed modernization of Tri-State river locks and dams.

"The Port of Pittsburgh is one of the busiest ports in the nation and the system of locks and dams on the three rivers is essential to the region's economy," U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Scranton, wrote to Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy.

Part of that network are locks and dams at Charleroi, Elizabeth and Braddock on the lower Monongahela River. It is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers overseen by Darcy.

"The entire Pittsburgh District Congressional delegation has worked together over the years to support investment in, and completion of, Army Corps projects of critical importance to Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Ohio River Valley, and the entire Pittsburgh District," U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, wrote to Darcy.

Murphy was lead writer in a letter also signed by U.S. Reps. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills; Mark Critz, D-Johnstown; Jason Altmire, D- Bradford Woods; Mike Kelly, R-Butler; David McKinley, R-W.Va.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; and Bill Johnson, R-Ohio. "Tens of thousands of local jobs depend on our waterways," Doyle said. "Many of these locks and dams were constructed over 75 years ago, and we must ensure that federal funding is secured to finish this multi- year replacement and rehabilitation project," Critz said.

All of the lawmakers are pushing to fund Mon River work in the Army Corps budget for the 2012 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 of this year, as well as other needs on the Allegheny, Ohio and other rivers that feed the Port of Pittsburgh.

"We ask that you remain committed to ensuring that these projects are accelerated," Murphy wrote.

On the Mon in particular, but on all the rivers in general, improvements have been slow in coming. The Corps started its Lower Monongahela River Locks and Dams in 1994, aimed at facilities at Charleroi, Braddock and Elizabeth.

"(It) was scheduled to be complete within 10 years at a cost of $750 million," Casey wrote to Darcy. "Seventeen years later, the project is less than halfway finished, will not be complete until 2032, and will cost $1.2 billion."

To date, only the Braddock Locks and Dam 2 section of the Lower Mon project has been completed. Also planned is the construction of larger locks at Charleroi Dam 4 and demolition of the Elizabeth Locks and Dam 3, to create a 30-mile unimpeded section of the Mon. The idea is to remove it before nature takes its toll.

"Locks (and Dam) 3 ... near Elizabeth dates from 1907, and through it travels about 12 million tons of cargo each month," Murphy wrote. "A breakdown would hinder the region's coal distribution, clog highways with extra tractor-trailers, and push up gas and electricity rates throughout the Pittsburgh region."

Casey's office said the Scranton Democrat helped secure $2 million for the Lower Mon project in an appropriations bill that was blocked during last year's lame duck session of Congress.

Critz was a top aide to the late U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D- Westmont, who as House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense chairman championed the cause of the locks and dams.

"It is absolutely essential that we continue to overhaul and replace our region's vast network of locks and dams," Murtha said on the eve of a July 2008 tour of the Braddock lock and dam. "These projects are important not only for commerce and recreation, but for future economic growth."

Murphy said he also has talked about the issue with U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on which the Upper St. Clair Republican is a member. U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., is ranking minority member of that committee. Moore, Altmire and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Everett, also are on that panel.

Patrick Cloonan can be reached at pcloonan@dailynewsemail.com or 412-664-9161.