The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will hold its first Environmental Issues Forum of the fall legislative session on September 22 at 11 a.m. in Senate Hearing Room 8E-A of the Capitol East Wing.

The topic of this month’s forum is Pennsylvania’s “Abandoned Turnpike,” a 13-mile stretch of the original PA Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties that was bypassed in the 1960s.

Over the years, this one-of-a-kind roadside attraction has become a popular destination for cyclists, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The Abandoned Turnpike has been previously featured in the New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer, as well as the book series Weird U.S. Currently an initiative is underway to turn this lost highway into a scenic, recreational bike path.

According to a recent economic impact study, the “Pike2Bike” trail could generate up to $8.8 million for the local economy.

Guest presenters include Craig Shuey, Chief Operating Officer of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, who will discuss the history and folklore associated with this particular section of the Turnpike.

He will be followed by Don Schwartz, Director of the Bedford County Planning Commission, who will discuss the current “Pike2Bike” initiative.

Oct. 6 Forum

The next Environmental Issues Forum will be on October 6 where Keep PA Beautiful will present its recommendations for significantly reducing illegal dumping in Pennsylvania. The Forum will be held in Room 8E-A East Wing starting at Noon.

August Environmental Synopsis

The August edition of the Committee’s Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available online.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation Committee.

9/22/2014