U.S. Route 219
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 219 is a spur of U.S. Route 19
. It runs for 535 miles (861 km) from West Seneca, New York
at an interchange with Interstate 90
, to Rich Creek, Virginia
, intersecting at U.S. Route 460
. U.S. 219 is found (from north to south) in New York
, Pennsylvania
, Maryland
, West Virginia
, and Virginia
. Much of the Route in West Virginia follows the old Indian warpath known as the Seneca Trail (Great Indian Warpath
).
In February 2009 it was reported that a group known as the 219 Association was pursuing the goal of urging several states to transform Route 219 into a 1,500-mile-long divided highway which the group hoped would be referred to as Continental 1. It has been proposed that U.S. 219 could spur trade between Canada
, the U.S., and the Caribbean
region.
state line. Until the early 1980s, US 219 continued southwest with US 460 from Rich Creek, re-entering West Virginia to end at US 19
in Bluefield. It now only runs 1.3 miles (2.1 km) in Virginia.
US 219 was initially added to the state highway system in the early 1920s as State Route 231. It became State Route 216 in the 1928 renumbering and State Route 124 in the 1933 renumbering, finally becoming part of the extended US 219 (along with State Route 8, now U.S. Route 460, west of Rich Creek) in the late 1930s.
in Peterstown
at the split of US 219 and WV 12. US 219 then heads northeast into Union
. US 219 continues through Greenbrier County
running through the towns of Ronceverte
, Lewisburg
, where it intersects US 60
, and Falling Spring
. US 219 continues north into Pocahontas County
and through the towns of Hillsboro
and Marlinton
. US 219 runs north into Randolph County
and begins its dual certification with US 250
. They both serve the towns of Huttonsville
, Mill Creek
, and Beverly
, where US 250
splits from US 219 at their intersection with US 33
. Route 219 continues through the towns of Elkins
and Montrose
until it enters Tucker County
. From here, US 219 runs through the towns of Parsons
and Thomas
. US 219 heads north into rural Preston County
and exits West Virginia
into Garrett County
, Maryland
.
on the West Virginia
border, crosses US 50 and enters the town of Oakland
. It crosses Maryland Route 135
and Maryland Route 39
in Oakland, before passing Deep Creek Lake
. After traveling through Accident
it intersects Interstate 68
east of Friendsville
, providing access to Morgantown, West Virginia
, Frostburg
and Cumberland
. US 219 runs concurrently with I-68 at Exit 14A and exits I-68 at Exit 22. US 219 crosses the Mason-Dixon Line
, the Pennsylvania
border, south of Salisbury, Pennsylvania
.
north to Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
, US 219 is Corridor N of the Appalachian Development Highway System
. From Somerset, Pennsylvania
to just south of Carrolltown, Pennsylvania
, US 219 is a limited-access highway. On August 9, 2007, Pennsylvania State Transportation
Secretary Allen D. Biehler unveiled four signs along US Route 219 that dedicated the route from Maryland
to Cambria County, Pennsylvania
as the "Flight 93
Memorial
Highway". From Carrolltown US 219 runs largely as a two-lane road to DuBois, Pennsylvania
, through which it runs as Brady Street, and then returns to a two-lane road after a junction with Interstate 80
. US 219 runs directly through the towns of Brockway
, Ridgway
, and Johnsonburg
before reaching Wilcox
, where PA Route 321
splits and heads for the borough of Kane
. US 219 continues north as a two-lane road until reaching Bradford
, where it becomes a limited-access highway and remains so until reaching the New York
border.
New York
from Pennsylvania south of the Village of Limestone
in the Town of Carrollton
in Cattaraugus County
. Proceeding northward, the highway splits into the main route and a "business route" that follows the original main route. The main route merges with Interstate 86
/New York State Route 17
at Exit 23 north of Limestone and splits from I-86 at Exit 21 in the city of Salamanca. The business route crosses the Allegheny River
and the Southern Tier Expressway and joins New York State Route 417
to the City of Salamanca
. Separating from NY 417, the business route rejoins with the main US 219 and turns northward through the rest of Cattaraugus County, passing through Peth, Great Valley, Ellicottville, and Ashford Hollow before crossing the Cattaraugus Creek
and entering Erie County
. About 4 miles south of Springville, New York
, US 219 becomes a divided, limited-access highway. As such, it continues north through half of the county, terminating at exit 55 of the New York State Thruway
(Interstate 90) near the west town line of West Seneca
south of the City of Buffalo
. Before joining the Thruway, US 219 runs parallel to it for about one mile (1.6 km). The interchange is set up as such that drivers can exit and re-enter the Thruway via US 219 without leaving the expressway.
In the 1990s, the PA 219 Association recognized that if it were going to become more effective, it had to create a more professional organization. The Association became the genesis of the Continental One Alliance which also included representatives from Maryland
, West Virginia
, and Erie County, New York. The Pennsylvania 219 Association was absorbed into the C-1 Alliance and ceased to exist as a separate organization.
In November 1998, in DuBois, Pennsylvania
, the Alliance conducted a day-long strategic planning meeting. Approximately 80 people participated in the planning process, with representatives from Maryland, West Virginia, and New York and all along the Pennsylvania 219 corridor from Bradford in the north to Somerset County in the south. A second planning meeting was held the following month at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, New York
, and included representatives from the four founding states and Canada.
The attendees recognized that federal highway funding had become increasingly competitive and that 219 was competing for funding with other trade and travel corridors throughout the United States; and competing with other transportation priorities within the individual states. Other trade and travel corridors were well financed with professional staff and were able to lobby extensively in Washington and their state capitals.
As a result, the group decided to formally organize a multi-state coalition of public and private partners to push for the construction of a four-lane limited access highway from Toronto, Canada, to Miami, Florida. Four key goals were established:
To accomplish these goals, the Continental 1 Board began an intensive fund raising campaign and over the next year secured approximately $400,000, primarily from the private sector. It also received financial and political support from Chambers of Commerce and counties along the corridor. Continental 1 was formally incorporated on July 5, 2000. In the fall of 2000, Continental 1 hired an Executive Director and engaged the services of a Washington-based lobbyist.
Over the next several years, the Executive Director, lobbyist, and the volunteer board worked in Washington, Albany, and Harrisburg to secure two federal grants. The first grant provided $1.5 million to conduct a comprehensive study of the proposed corridor and was administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. This study was completed in the summer of 2007.
The second grant, a $1.5 million federal DOT grant, is being administered by the New York Department of Transportation and is directed to increase public awareness of Continental 1 and to establish a stable base for Continental 1's continued operations. A second objective of the study is to conduct a comprehensive study of trade and travel corridors. The study was kicked off during the late spring of 2008.
U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19 is a north–south U.S. Highway. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie....
. It runs for 535 miles (861 km) from West Seneca, New York
West Seneca, New York
West Seneca is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 44,711 at the 2010 census. West Seneca is a centrally-located interior town of the county, and a suburb of Buffalo...
at an interchange with Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
, to Rich Creek, Virginia
Rich Creek, Virginia
Rich Creek is a town in Giles County, Virginia, United States. The population was 665 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, intersecting at U.S. Route 460
U.S. Route 460
U.S. Route 460 is a spur of U.S. Route 60. It currently runs for 655 miles from Norfolk, Virginia at U.S. Route 60 at Ocean View to Frankfort, Kentucky at U.S. Route 60. It passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky...
. U.S. 219 is found (from north to south) in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Much of the Route in West Virginia follows the old Indian warpath known as the Seneca Trail (Great Indian Warpath
Great Indian Warpath
The Great Indian Warpath — also known as the Great Indian War and Trading Path, or the Seneca Trail — was that part of the network of trails in eastern North America developed and used by Native Americans which ran through the Great Appalachian Valley...
).
In February 2009 it was reported that a group known as the 219 Association was pursuing the goal of urging several states to transform Route 219 into a 1,500-mile-long divided highway which the group hoped would be referred to as Continental 1. It has been proposed that U.S. 219 could spur trade between Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the U.S., and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
region.
Virginia
U.S. Route 219 starts in Rich Creek at U.S. Route 460, and heads northeast to the West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
state line. Until the early 1980s, US 219 continued southwest with US 460 from Rich Creek, re-entering West Virginia to end at US 19
U.S. Route 19 in West Virginia
U.S. Route 19 in West Virginia runs through West Virginia from the Virginia state line in Bluefield, WV to the Pennsylvania state line near Mount Morris, PA.-Route:...
in Bluefield. It now only runs 1.3 miles (2.1 km) in Virginia.
US 219 was initially added to the state highway system in the early 1920s as State Route 231. It became State Route 216 in the 1928 renumbering and State Route 124 in the 1933 renumbering, finally becoming part of the extended US 219 (along with State Route 8, now U.S. Route 460, west of Rich Creek) in the late 1930s.
West Virginia
US 219 enters West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in Peterstown
Peterstown, West Virginia
Peterstown is a town in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 499 at the 2000 census.The town is the site of the 1928 discovery of the 34.48 carat Jones Diamond by Grover C...
at the split of US 219 and WV 12. US 219 then heads northeast into Union
Union, West Virginia
Union is a town in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 548 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County.-History:...
. US 219 continues through Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
running through the towns of Ronceverte
Ronceverte, West Virginia
Ronceverte is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, on the Greenbrier River. The population was 1,557 at the 2000 census.- Culture and History :...
, Lewisburg
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greenbrier County.-Geography:Lewisburg is located at ....
, where it intersects US 60
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
, and Falling Spring
Falling Spring, West Virginia
Falling Spring is a town in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 209 at the 2000 census.The post office that serves the community is called Renick, rather than Falling Spring; its ZIP Code is 24966....
. US 219 continues north into Pocahontas County
Pocahontas County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,131 people, 835 households, and 527 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 7,594 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
and through the towns of Hillsboro
Hillsboro, West Virginia
Hillsboro is a town in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census.- History :Hillsboro was named for pioneer John Hill, from North Carolina, who built a log cabin near what is now Lobelia...
and Marlinton
Marlinton, West Virginia
Marlinton is a town in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pocahontas County.-History:...
. US 219 runs north into Randolph County
Randolph County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,262 people, 11,072 households, and 7,661 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 13,478 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
and begins its dual certification with US 250
U.S. Route 250
U.S. Route 250 is a route of the United States Numbered Highway System, and is a spur of U.S. Route 50. It currently runs for from Sandusky, Ohio to Richmond, Virginia. It passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. It goes through the cities of Richmond, Virginia,...
. They both serve the towns of Huttonsville
Huttonsville, West Virginia
Huttonsville is a town in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States, along the Tygart Valley River. The population was 217 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Mill Creek
Mill Creek, West Virginia
Mill Creek is a town in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States, along the Tygart Valley River. The population was 662 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mill Creek is located at ....
, and Beverly
Beverly, West Virginia
Beverly is a small town in Randolph County, West Virginia, USA. It is situated along the Tygart Valley River and had a population of 651 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Beverly is located at ....
, where US 250
U.S. Route 250
U.S. Route 250 is a route of the United States Numbered Highway System, and is a spur of U.S. Route 50. It currently runs for from Sandusky, Ohio to Richmond, Virginia. It passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. It goes through the cities of Richmond, Virginia,...
splits from US 219 at their intersection with US 33
U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33 is a United States federal highway that runs northwest-southeast for 709 miles from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Ohio and West Virginia en route. Although most odd-numbered U.S...
. Route 219 continues through the towns of Elkins
Elkins, West Virginia
Elkins is a city in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The community was incorporated in 1890 and named in honor of Stephen Benton Elkins , a U.S. Senator from West Virginia. The population was 7,032 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County...
and Montrose
Montrose, West Virginia
Montrose is a town in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 156 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Montrose is located at , along Leading Creek....
until it enters Tucker County
Tucker County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,321 people, 3,052 households, and 2,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile . There were 4,634 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
. From here, US 219 runs through the towns of Parsons
Parsons, West Virginia
The town of Parsons is the county seat of Tucker County, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 1,463 at the 2000 census. The mayor of Parsons is Dorothy Judy and the city administrator is Jason Myers...
and Thomas
Thomas, West Virginia
Thomas is a city in Tucker County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 452 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was named for Thomas Beall Davis....
. US 219 heads north into rural Preston County
Preston County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,334 people, 11,544 households, and 8,357 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,444 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
and exits West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
into Garrett County
Garrett County, Maryland
Garrett County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. Created from Allegany County, Maryland in 1872 it was the last Maryland county to be formed. It was named for John Work Garrett , railroad executive, industrialist, and financier. Garrett served as president of the Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Maryland
US 219 enters Maryland near Backbone MountainBackbone Mountain
Backbone Mountain is a ridge of the Allegheny Mountains of the central Appalachian Mountain Range. It is situated in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland and forms a portion of the Eastern Continental Divide...
on the West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
border, crosses US 50 and enters the town of Oakland
Oakland, Maryland
Oakland is a town in the west-central part of Garrett County, Maryland, United States. With a population of 1,925 according to United States Census 2010 figures, it is the most populated community in Garrett County...
. It crosses Maryland Route 135
Maryland Route 135
Maryland Route 135 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Maryland Highway, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 219 in Oakland in Garrett County east to US 220 in McCoole in Allegany County...
and Maryland Route 39
Maryland Route 39
Maryland Route 39 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for much of its length as Hutton Road, the state highway begins at the West Virginia state line in Hutton, where the highway continues west as West Virginia Route 7 . MD 39, which is the westernmost state-numbered highway...
in Oakland, before passing Deep Creek Lake
Deep Creek Lake
Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in the state of Maryland. It covers approximately and has of shoreline. Like all lakes in Maryland, it is man-made. The lake is home to a wide variety of freshwater fish and aquatic birds. The Wisp ski resort is located nearby...
. After traveling through Accident
Accident, Maryland
Accident is a town in Garrett County, Maryland, United States. The population was 353 at the 2000 census. The town is home to Northern Garrett High School...
it intersects Interstate 68
Interstate 68
Interstate 68 is a Interstate highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland, connecting in Morgantown to in Hancock. is also Corridor E of the Appalachian Development Highway System. From 1965 until the freeway's construction was completed in 1991, it was designated as...
east of Friendsville
Friendsville, Maryland
Friendsville is a town in Garrett County, Maryland, United States. The population was 539 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Friendsville is located at ....
, providing access to Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
, Frostburg
Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census...
and Cumberland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
. US 219 runs concurrently with I-68 at Exit 14A and exits I-68 at Exit 22. US 219 crosses the Mason-Dixon Line
Mason-Dixon line
The Mason–Dixon Line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute between British colonies in Colonial America. It forms a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and...
, the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
border, south of Salisbury, Pennsylvania
Salisbury, Pennsylvania
Salisbury is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 878 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
Pennsylvania
From near Grantsville, MarylandGrantsville, Maryland
Grantsville is a town in Garrett County, Maryland, United States. The population was 619 at the 2000 census.-History:Grantsville, 1/2 mile west of the Casselman River, began as a small Amish and Mennonite settlement, called Tomlinson's or Little Crossing, along Braddock rd., which wound westward...
north to Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Ebensburg is a borough located in, and is the seat of, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, west of Altoona and surrounded by Cambria Township. It is situated in the Alleghenies about 2025 feet above sea level. Ebensburg is located in a rich bituminous coal region. In the past, saw mills, tanneries,...
, US 219 is Corridor N of the Appalachian Development Highway System
Appalachian Development Highway System
The Appalachian Development Highway System is part of the Appalachian Regional Commission in the United States. See: .-History:...
. From Somerset, Pennsylvania
Somerset, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,762 people, 3,035 households, and 1,717 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,466.0 people per square mile . There were 3,313 housing units at an average density of 1,208.2 per square mile...
to just south of Carrolltown, Pennsylvania
Carrolltown, Pennsylvania
Carrolltown is a borough within East Carroll Township in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,049 at the 2000 census...
, US 219 is a limited-access highway. On August 9, 2007, Pennsylvania State Transportation
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation oversees transportation issues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The administrator of PennDOT is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation, currently Barry Schoch Presently, PennDOT supports over of state roads and highways, about 25,000...
Secretary Allen D. Biehler unveiled four signs along US Route 219 that dedicated the route from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
to Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Cambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
as the "Flight 93
United Airlines Flight 93
United Airlines Flight 93 was United Airlines' scheduled morning transcontinental flight across the United States from Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco International Airport in California. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the Boeing 757–222 aircraft operating the...
Memorial
Flight 93 National Memorial
The Flight 93 National Memorial is located at the site of the crash of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked in the September 11 attacks, in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, about north of Shanksville, and southeast of Pittsburgh. The memorial was made to honor the passengers of Flight...
Highway". From Carrolltown US 219 runs largely as a two-lane road to DuBois, Pennsylvania
DuBois, Pennsylvania
DuBois is a city in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the principal city in the DuBois, Pa Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, through which it runs as Brady Street, and then returns to a two-lane road after a junction with Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
. US 219 runs directly through the towns of Brockway
Brockway, Pennsylvania
Brockway is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,182 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brockway is located at ....
, Ridgway
Ridgway, Pennsylvania
Ridgway is a borough in and the county seat of Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States.-History:Ridgway was founded by Philadelphian shipping merchant Jacob Ridgway and James Gillis. Jacob Ridgway earned substantial wealth both in Philadelphia and abroad in London. He constantly sent sums of money...
, and Johnsonburg
Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania
Johnsonburg is a borough in Elk County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh and south of Buffalo, New York, in a productive farming and lumbering region. Paper mills were once common here, and Domtar still maintains a paper mill there today. In 1910, 4,334 people lived here...
before reaching Wilcox
Wilcox, Pennsylvania
The unincorporated village of Wilcox is located in Jones Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania. The community was named after a settler, Col. A.I. Wilcox. The Swedish Lutheran Parsonage located at 230 Kane Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.The year 2008 marked the...
, where PA Route 321
Pennsylvania Route 321
Pennsylvania Route 321 is an long state highway located in Elk and McKean counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at US 219 in Jones Township...
splits and heads for the borough of Kane
Kane, Pennsylvania
Kane is a borough in McKean County, Pennsylvania, east by south of Erie. It was founded in 1863 by Civil War general Thomas L. Kane at an elevated site 2210 feet above sea level. In the early part of the twentieth century, Kane had large glassworks, bottle works, lumber mills, and manufactures of...
. US 219 continues north as a two-lane road until reaching Bradford
Bradford, Pennsylvania
Bradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century...
, where it becomes a limited-access highway and remains so until reaching the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
border.
New York
US 219 enters WesternWestern New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from Pennsylvania south of the Village of Limestone
Limestone, New York
Limestone is a hamlet in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 411 at the 2000 census....
in the Town of Carrollton
Carrollton, New York
Carrollton is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,410 at the 2000 census. The name comes from an early settler.The Town of Carrollton is on the south border of Cattaraugus County...
in Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
. Proceeding northward, the highway splits into the main route and a "business route" that follows the original main route. The main route merges with Interstate 86
Interstate 86 (east)
Interstate 86 is an Interstate Highway that extends for through northwestern Pennsylvania and southern New York in the United States...
/New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
at Exit 23 north of Limestone and splits from I-86 at Exit 21 in the city of Salamanca. The business route crosses the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
and the Southern Tier Expressway and joins New York State Route 417
New York State Route 417
New York State Route 417 is an east–west state highway located in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It begins at exit 20 of the Southern Tier Expressway in the city of Salamanca and ends at a junction with NY 415 in Painted Post, west of the city of Corning...
to the City of Salamanca
Salamanca (city), New York
Salamanca is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States, located inside the Allegany Indian Reservation. The population was 6,097 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. Separating from NY 417, the business route rejoins with the main US 219 and turns northward through the rest of Cattaraugus County, passing through Peth, Great Valley, Ellicottville, and Ashford Hollow before crossing the Cattaraugus Creek
Cattaraugus Creek
Cattaraugus Creek is a stream, approximately 68 miles long, in western New York in the United States. The creek drains a wooded rural portion of western New York southwest of Buffalo into Lake Erie. In its lower course it flows primarily through the Cattaraugus Reservation of the Seneca tribe...
and entering Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
. About 4 miles south of Springville, New York
Springville, New York
Springville is a village in the southeast part of the town of Concord in Erie County, New York, United States. Springville is the principal community in the town and a major business location in south Erie County. The population was 4,252 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara...
, US 219 becomes a divided, limited-access highway. As such, it continues north through half of the county, terminating at exit 55 of the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(Interstate 90) near the west town line of West Seneca
West Seneca, New York
West Seneca is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 44,711 at the 2010 census. West Seneca is a centrally-located interior town of the county, and a suburb of Buffalo...
south of the City of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. Before joining the Thruway, US 219 runs parallel to it for about one mile (1.6 km). The interchange is set up as such that drivers can exit and re-enter the Thruway via US 219 without leaving the expressway.
Continental 1
The Pennsylvania 219 Association was founded in the late 1960s by a group of volunteers with the shared dream of seeing US Route 219 upgraded to a four-lane highway. Members of the Association were spread along the 219 corridor from Bradford in the north to Somerset County in the south. It was a loosely formed and governed group which enjoyed only moderate success over its 30 years of existence.In the 1990s, the PA 219 Association recognized that if it were going to become more effective, it had to create a more professional organization. The Association became the genesis of the Continental One Alliance which also included representatives from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, and Erie County, New York. The Pennsylvania 219 Association was absorbed into the C-1 Alliance and ceased to exist as a separate organization.
In November 1998, in DuBois, Pennsylvania
DuBois, Pennsylvania
DuBois is a city in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the principal city in the DuBois, Pa Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, the Alliance conducted a day-long strategic planning meeting. Approximately 80 people participated in the planning process, with representatives from Maryland, West Virginia, and New York and all along the Pennsylvania 219 corridor from Bradford in the north to Somerset County in the south. A second planning meeting was held the following month at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, New York
Ellicottville, New York
Ellicottville, New York is the name of two places in Cattaraugus County, New York:*Ellicottville , New York*Ellicottville , New YorkBoth locations are named after Joseph Ellicott, an agent for the Holland Land Company....
, and included representatives from the four founding states and Canada.
The attendees recognized that federal highway funding had become increasingly competitive and that 219 was competing for funding with other trade and travel corridors throughout the United States; and competing with other transportation priorities within the individual states. Other trade and travel corridors were well financed with professional staff and were able to lobby extensively in Washington and their state capitals.
As a result, the group decided to formally organize a multi-state coalition of public and private partners to push for the construction of a four-lane limited access highway from Toronto, Canada, to Miami, Florida. Four key goals were established:
- Secure designation of Continental 1 as a federally recognized trade and travel corridor.
- Secure funding for the construction of C-1 (Route 219) from Springville, New York, to its point of intersection with Interstate 86 at Salamanca, New York.
- Secure funding for preliminary engineering and environmental studies for that part of Continental 1 (Route 219) from Bradford, PA, to its intersection with Interstate 80 at DuBois, PA.
- Build an organization with long term sustainability.
To accomplish these goals, the Continental 1 Board began an intensive fund raising campaign and over the next year secured approximately $400,000, primarily from the private sector. It also received financial and political support from Chambers of Commerce and counties along the corridor. Continental 1 was formally incorporated on July 5, 2000. In the fall of 2000, Continental 1 hired an Executive Director and engaged the services of a Washington-based lobbyist.
Over the next several years, the Executive Director, lobbyist, and the volunteer board worked in Washington, Albany, and Harrisburg to secure two federal grants. The first grant provided $1.5 million to conduct a comprehensive study of the proposed corridor and was administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. This study was completed in the summer of 2007.
The second grant, a $1.5 million federal DOT grant, is being administered by the New York Department of Transportation and is directed to increase public awareness of Continental 1 and to establish a stable base for Continental 1's continued operations. A second objective of the study is to conduct a comprehensive study of trade and travel corridors. The study was kicked off during the late spring of 2008.
See also
- Interstate 67
- United Airlines Flight 93United Airlines Flight 93United Airlines Flight 93 was United Airlines' scheduled morning transcontinental flight across the United States from Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco International Airport in California. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the Boeing 757–222 aircraft operating the...
- Flight 93 National MemorialFlight 93 National MemorialThe Flight 93 National Memorial is located at the site of the crash of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked in the September 11 attacks, in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, about north of Shanksville, and southeast of Pittsburgh. The memorial was made to honor the passengers of Flight...
- NAFTA superhighwayNAFTA superhighwayThe NAFTA superhighway is a term sometimes used to refer to certain existing and proposed highways. The beliefs associated with this appellation have been characterized as a part of theories of a conspiracy to undermine U.S...
External links
- Continental 1 Trade & Travel Corridor
- Stimulus resurrects idea of Continental One, Friday, March 20, 2009