Geiger
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Somerset benefits from its location on the Pennsylvania Turnpike,
one of the eastern United States busiest east/west corridors. It is
notable that this section of the PA Turnpike includes traffic from
both I-76, running from Philadelphia west to the Ohio Turnpike;
and I-70, running from Baltimore west to Columbus, Ohio and
beyond. This translates into heavy interstate truck traffic. A
interchange provides direct access to the Borough of Somerset
and is less than two miles from the proposed business park.

 

North/south access is provided by US Route 219, a four-lane
limited access highway. Currently this route runs primarily north
from Somerset through both Somerset and Cambria Counties.
However a section running south from Somerset to Garrett, PA
is in final design, with construction expected to commence within
the next 2 – 3 years. When completed, US Rt. 219 will extend
south to I-68 near Cumberland, MD. 
 

Other significant east/west highways include State Route 30 (the
Lincoln Highway) and State Route 31.

‘SLIP RAMPS'

 
An improvement that has been discussed between the Developers
and the PA Turnpike Commission is a potential ‘slip ramp’ to
provide additional access between the business park and I-70/76.
‘Slip Ramps’ are a newer concept on the PA Turnpike. They
comprise unmanned, full access interchanges, but which allow
access solely to customers using the EZ Pass electronic payment
system.  

The Developers believe that, in conjunction with one or more
significant industrial or distribution facilities locating in the
Business Park, there is a very real opportunity to obtain the
funding needed to install a new slip ramp to further improve the
accessibility of the site. This funding would likely be a combination
of public and private funds. A slip ramp would clearly be a
tremendous marketing tool for additional development in the
Park. The following statement, was taken from "The Pennsylvania
Turnpike: A History", an authorized history by the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Commission, written by Dan Cupper, Applied Arts Publishers, 2001,
discusses “slip ramps”.

“Around the same time it began planning for the E-Z Pass implementation, the
Turnpike began a study of the possible creation of “slip ramps” that would
work in concert with E-Z Pass to address regional congestion. Slip ramps are
not part of normal interchanges but access ramps that allow only E-Z Pass
customers to enter or exit the highway at points in between regular
interchanges. They help reduce traffic congestion at interchanges and on local
roads by allowing E-Z Pass customers to enter or exit the Turnpike closer to
their workplace. Slip ramps also provide access for emergency vehicles. The
Turnpike’s first slip ramp is nearing completing for westbound-on and
westbound-off traffic one mile east of Interchange #26 (Fort Washington). For
customers who travel the Turnpike to and from the Fort Washington office
park – and for those in nearby communities – the slip ramp will offer direct
travel, avoiding the interchange and the need to backtrack on local roads.
Additional ramps are being considered for areas along the Turnpike corridor
with large business or industrial parks.” 

Industries in Somerset were built in the 60’s and 70’s when rail shipping
was not competitive, leaving trucks the shippers’ choice.  With the
changing climate in the railroad industry, railroad companies have been
able to quote rates that are competitive truck rates but local companies
are still using trucks because of lack of rail spurs.

The Somerset Business Park is located next to the Somerset Cambria
Branch of the CSX Railroad.  The Somerset Cambria Rail connects the
Norfolk Southern to the CSX.  These two mainlines are extremely active
and probably the oldest and heaviest traveled.  The CSX Railroad is the
main east/west line from Baltimore, MD to Chicago IL and the largest
railroad in the United States and has access to the Northeast Coast,
Southeast, South as well as the Midwest.  The Norfolk Southern is also
a Northeast Mainline from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL.

         Railroad Line Map

     (Click to view larger image)

With access to the CSX and the Norfolk Southern, the use of both of
these railroads can be a great asset to any company using rail service
or any company located in Somerset County.  

Water
An abundant water supply is available through three sources.

· Somerset Township Municipal Authority has a 12"
    public water line that lies along Route 31.

· Six years ago the Somerset and Cambria County
    Commissioners formed a new joint authority which
    purchased the water rights to five regional reservoirs,
    including the 11 billion gallon Quemahoning Reservoir,
    located approximately 10 miles north of Somerset. An
    24" transmission line will pass near the northern border
    of the business park. This line will initially be set up to
    carry two (2) million gallons per day (GPD), but is
    capable of over double this amount.

· On-site water – There is an on-site water source
    producing approximately one (1) million GPD.  This
    water source could be used for a variety of industrial
    applications, including fire suppression, or processed
    into an inexpensive supply of potable water. Detailed
    water analysis reports are available on request. 

· Public water is currently billed at a fixed rate of 60¢ per
    100 gallons.

· Contact information:

    Somerset Township Municipal Authority
    Ms. Nancy Aultz
    2209 North Center Avenue
    P.O. Box 247
    Somerset, PA 15501
    Phone (814) 445-3108

Sewerage
Somerset Township Municipal Authority is the primary utility.

There is a pumping station on the business park site that pumps
to the Friedens Sewer Treatment Plant. Per the Township, that
plant has an 800,000 GPD capacity and is currently using
approximately 400,000 GPD. 

In addition, Somerset Borough has a 2,000,000 GPD treatment
plant that is slightly over 50% utilized under normal conditions.
This line is less than 1000 feet from the southern property line,
but would require installing a sewer line under the PA Turnpike.

Public sewer is currently billed at a fixed rate of 72¢ per 100
gallons.

Electric
Penelec Power is the power company serving the property. In
addition to local service lines, a 115 KVA transmission line
crosses the west side of the property.

Contact information:

Jim Haas
Regional Marketing Support
Southwestern Pennsylvania
Phone: (724) 656-5399
haasj@firstenergycorp.com

Natural Gas
    Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania
    Mike Belsky – New Business Manager
    Phone: (724) 416-6357

Telephone
    Verizon North, Inc.
    Dean Rumsey
    421 Locust Street
    Johnstown, PA 15901
    Phone: (814) 536-6248

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CONTACT INFO:

888 STOYSTOWN ROAD
SOMERSET, PA 15501

PHONE:  814.279.0044
FAX:  814.445.7644
EMAIL:  larrymostoller@geigerdevelopmentcorp.com