Metzgar legislation to stop Turnpike Commission use of eminent domain

State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset) has announced his intention to introduce legislation that would eliminate the ability of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to exercise the power of eminent domain.

He said there are growing concerns over its expansion plans that threaten private property rights and Pennsylvania’s natural heritage.

The PTC proposed a four-year preliminary engineering stage in 2024 for a project that would put a 1,000-foot cut through the Allegheny Mountain front near the existing Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnels. The plan has received repeated opposition from the public, Metzgar said in a press release.

“This maneuver would seize private property and cause significant disruptions to surrounding ecosystems, local climate conditions and nearby communities, leading to irreversible damage to the environment and quality of life,” he said in the release.

According to Metzgar, those who rely on the mountain for water supply through wells and natural springs – including Berlin Borough – could face immense danger because of contamination and scarcity.

The group Citizens to Save Allegheny Mountain (CTSAM) has been meeting regularly since the turnpike’s proposal for the Allegheny Mountain front was announced. The group suggests an alternative to the proposal by having a third tunnel built instead. They say the impact on the area would be less destructive to the water, environment and private properties.

At the February CTSAM meeting, the members discussed plans to go to the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg May 5 to talk to legislators, environmentalists and interested organizations. They hope to hold a press conference while they are in Harrisburg to bring more statewide awareness of the project and encourage financial backing for CTSAM’s efforts.

The Somerset County Conservancy issued a statement Feb. 5, saying it supports the effort of the CTSAM’s opposition to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s plan to cut through the Allegheny Mountain close to where the existing tunnels now carry turnpike traffic.

Urgent action needed

Metzgar said urgent action is required, given the mitigating risk factors and PTC’s relentless pursuit of this project, to restore balance and protect Pennsylvanians from government overreach.

“Taking away eminent domain would re-establish a landowner’s ability to consent,” said Metzgar in the release. “It is my understanding the landowners do not consent to having their land taken, nor to put this enormous cut through the mountain. My plan is the best course of action to deter the Turnpike Commission’s egregious behavior and put the people first.”

Once introduced, the measure will be given a House bill number and then assigned to a committee for consideration.