Turnpike Slip Ramp

Charlestown Green, Inc. Letter to the County Board of Commissioners

January 21, 1999

Dear Commissioners Hanna, Martynick and Dinniman:

We are citizens of Charlestown Township who are very concerned about the potential negative impacts to our township and surrounding townships, should a slip ramp be built off the PA Turnpike onto or near Route 29.

We have tried several avenues to get information regarding the traffic, environmental, and historic studies currently underway. We have been told by Christina Hampton, Public Affairs Officer with the PA Turnpike Commission, that there will be a "Public Information Meeting" in late February or early March. We have also been told that this will be an all-day meeting (2:00 — 8:00) and that there would be representatives from the Commission available to answer questions. While we appreciate any effort on the Commission’s part to give us any information, we are asking your help in insisting on a Public Hearing.

We feel that a Public Hearing will enable the data resulting from the studies to be presented formally and that each citizen would have the opportunity to address the Commission with questions. In that way, our elected officials would be able to hear our concerns and questions, and we will be able to benefit from the information resulting from others’ questions. We would also like to receive the data prior to the hearing so that we can try to understand it thoroughly. We believe that is will be difficult to assess the information and formulate questions without an opportunity to review written reports in advance of the public meeting.

A Slip Ramp at Route 29 has the potential to profoundly impact our township. We believe that it is our right to have our opinions heard, recorded, and addressed prior to any decisions being made.

We are respectfully asking you to request that the Turnpike Commission 1)make all traffic, environmental and historic studies available at local libraries and township offices in advance of the public meeting and 2) formally present the slip ramp project and hold a Public Hearing for citizens’ comments to be voiced, recorded, and addressed.

Thank you in advance for your help in this matter. We look forward to hearing from you regarding this important county-wide issue.

Sincerely,