Dear Stakeholder:

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) is planning to replace the Allegheny Tunnels, which carry Interstate 70/76 traffic harmlessly beneath the eastern front of the Allegheny Mountain. During this planning process, proposals by the PTC to replace the tunnels with cuts through the mountain have been nearly unanimously opposed by local, state, and federal elected representatives, wildlife, environmental and conservation groups, and the public in general. Despite this opposition, the PTC has now selected the “Gray Cut” option as their preferred alternative to replace the Allegheny Tunnels. Their callous disregard for the concerns of “Gray Cut” opponents is an indication of their desire to ultimately eliminate all tunnels across their highway system.

Until now, the Project has been in the study phase. The PTC has spent millions of dollars to minimize the concerns of road cut opponents and support their position that a road cut is the best option. In November of 2021, it published a Final Environmental Document that formally selected the “Gray Cut” as their preferred alternative. The “Gray Cut” project will cut a path of destruction through the very heart of the Allegheny Mountain. At the “Gray Cut’s” apex, the PTC proposes to cut a 250 feet-deep and 1000 feet-wide swath through the mountain. It will permanently render a scar on Allegheny Mountain.

We believe the project, if not stopped, will destroy wildlife migration routes, adversely impact surface and ground water resources, potentially impact a public water supply recharge area, displace wildlife, destroy hundreds of acres of mountain land, expose the highway traveler to a mountainous microclimate that will include ice, snow, dense fog, and high wind, and create a highway that will endanger the traveling public. Disregarding all these concerns, the PTC has now begun the preliminary design phase of this destructive project.

Given the PTC’s persistence to construct a road cut through Allegheny Mountain over the past twenty years, the PTC will continue to push forward with this type of destructive project unless forced to stop and seriously consider other options. It also became clear that all of those who have opposed this destructive “Gray Cut” option now need to unite, in a unified front and under an umbrella organization, in order to have the capacity to stop the PTC’s “Gray Cut.” Therefore, we have organized a 501(c)(3) non-profit group, Citizens to Save the Allegheny Mountain (CTSAM). We would be honored if your organization would join the fight to stop the PTC’s destruction of the beautiful Allegheny Mountain and its resources.

You can learn more about this project and our fight to stop it by visiting our website at: https://savealleghenymountain.com. If you and your organization wish to help save the Allegheny Mountain, visit the “How You Can Help” webpage on the savethealleghenymountain.com website.

This fight is too critical to lose. We need every conservation-minded person and organization in the region and the country to join with us in this noble effort. Once the mountain is cut, it will never return to its current glory. Society cannot continue to destroy our wild and wonderful places. We must fight to conserve the invaluable natural landscape of Allegheny Mountain for current and future generations.

Please go to our website now and join the fight. If you have questions, feel free to call me directly at 814-233-0351 or email me at MusserRandall@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Randall L. Musser,

Chair, CTSAM