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WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta Wednesday confirmed the long-awaited federal courthouse in Harrisburg is at the top of the priority list for the judiciary.
The judiciary’s Committee on Space and Facilities has ranked the project as the number one item on the construction list — a decision approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the governing body of the judiciary chaired by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Barletta said the ascension of Harrisburg to the top slot is further indication the $194.4 million courthouse project will become a reality.
In an emailed news release, Barletta said he has pushed for the project as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Congress formally appropriates the money for courthouse construction and renovation, but traditionally defers to the judiciary to set the priority order, Barletta said.
“Each bit of good news brings us closer to the day when we can cut the ribbon and open the new courthouse,” Barletta said. “The new courthouse will be an important new facility for Harrisburg, as it will serve as a hub of activity and drive new economic development for the area.”
In September 2016, Barletta announced the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had authorized a total of $194.4 million for the Harrisburg Courthouse. The final step will be the actual appropriation of the funds, a process which will not begin until at least the new year, Barletta noted.
The appropriation includes $29.5 million in fiscal year 2016 for partial funding of feasibility studies and preparation work in addition to earlier funding in 2004 of $26 million.
The Harrisburg project includes the design and construction of a courthouse of approximately 243,000 square feet and an estimated 43 parking spaces. The building will contain as many as eight courtrooms, including three for District Judges, two for Senior District Judges, two for Magistrate Judges and one for Bankruptcy Judges.
There had been initial discussions of constructing only an annex to the existing courthouse, but that idea has been shelved in favor of an entirely new courthouse, Barletta said.