KCI supported MDOT SHA and PennDOT District 9 in advancing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a critical 8-mile segment of US 219, connecting the Meyersdale Bypass in Pennsylvania to the I-68/US 219 interchange in Maryland.
The team led multi-state environmental coordination and documentation efforts, including preparation of the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision, while also delivering technical studies in traffic noise, air quality, greenhouse gas impacts, wetlands, streams, hazardous waste, and socio-economic conditions. KCI also led extensive interagency collaboration between PennDOT, MDOT SHA, FHWA, and resource agencies, specifically with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Section 7 consultation regarding several bat species. The team facilitated hybrid public and stakeholder meetings, conducted Community Advisory Committee Meetings, and supported environmental justice outreach to ensure local communities were heard. Special emphasis was placed on environmental stewardship, with targeted studies and mitigation strategies developed to protect endangered bat habitats, and aquatic resources. KCI also supported the preparation and submission of the USACE Section 404 Waterway Permit and Maryland’s 401 Water Quality Certification Permit.
By managing the environmental process and building consensus among diverse stakeholders, our team helped secure federal approval for this long-anticipated project, paving the way for final design and construction of a safe, efficient corridor. The completion of this link closes the final gap in Corridor N of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), strengthening regional connectivity, freight movement, and economic opportunity across the Appalachian region that will benefit communities for decades to come.
