Press Releases

Today, Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that he has successfully led the passage of H.R. 6364– his bipartisan bill to extend the use of U.S. Route 209 within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area by light commercial vehicles  - through the U.S. House of Representatives by a unanimous vote late Wednesday afternoon.

Now headed to the Senate, Rep. Cartwright’s bill will also ensure emergency vehicles and school buses can continue using sections of Highway 209, within the boundaries of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, toll-free. 

“This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will go a long way towards protecting Northeastern Pennsylvania’s small businesses and our local economy," said Rep. Cartwright. "I am grateful to the bill’s co-sponsors, Congressmen Meuser and Fitzpatrick, for their support of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to waste no time in taking up this measure."

You can read Congressman’s Cartwright’s entire Floor Speech here.

In 1981, the National Park Service (NPS) received jurisdiction over the section of Route 209 within the national recreation area. Two years later, the 1983 Supplemental Appropriations Act closed the federally owned segment of Route 209 to all commercial traffic except for light commercial vehicles serving businesses or people located in, or along, the boundaries of the national recreation area. 

Since then, the commercial vehicle exemption has been reauthorized by Congress multiple times. Most recently, Congress enacted a one-year extension of the Route 209 commercial vehicle exemption through the FY22 Omnibus. However, that exemption expires on September 30, 2022.

H.R. 6364 will extend the current commercial vehicle exemption until September 30, 2026.