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Jul 3, 2009 2:55 pm US/Eastern
Specter: Economic Stimulus Bill Needs Time To Work
Reporting
Jim Lokay
OAKDALE (KDKA) ―
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Sen. Arlen Specter (File)
Alex Wong/Getty Images
The massive economic stimulus bill passed by Congress earlier this year needs time to work, according to Senator Arlen Specter.
The Pennsylvania Democrat was in Oakdale this morning to promote a $14 million construction project along the Parkway West fueled by stimulus money.
The work, part of the preparation to re-designate a stretch of Route 22, Route 30 and Route 60 as Interstate 376, began in the spring shortly after the stimulus measure was passed.
It is the first local project to receive such funding.
"PennDOT is meeting its obligation to have half of the highway designation within 120 days, and the balance by later in the fall which will put people to work and accomplish the objectives of the stimulus," said Specter.
The visit comes two days after new Labor Department figures showed that the national unemployment rate at 9.5 percent.
While the stimulus was aimed at creating jobs, Sen. Specter says that he's optimistic that more people will return to work as future projects take hold.
"Had it not been passed, I think these figures would look much worse, but we're on track, and it's going to take some time, and, I think, working through and we're meeting our goals."
In the meantime, crews from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation continue to install new I-376 signs along the stretch of the Parkway West from Interstate 79 to the Fort Pitt Tunnel.
When finished, the road will cease to be referred to as I-279, leaving that designation solely for the Parkway North.
The state plans on eventually extending the I-376 designation from its current terminus at I-79 to the Route 60 and Interstate 80 junction in Mercer County.
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