Fayette County Commissioner Vice Chairman Vincent A. Vicites was elected vice chairman of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission for a two-year term.
With more than 60 members, including an executive committee, the SPC is a forum for regional collaboration, planning and public decision-making; focused on transportation, development, information systems and more.
Vicites has been part of the SPC for more than 17 years, and a member of its executive committee for more than a decade. He most recently served as secretary/treasurer of SPC from 2022 until becoming vice chairman this week.
“It’s a great honor to be selected by my fellow county commissioners in the 10-county region and the City of Pittsburgh to continue to serve in the leadership of a metropolitan planning organization,” Vicites said. “We’ve accomplished many projects and reached major milestones in my time with SPC, and I look forward to continuing that momentum.”
During his tenure, Vicites has worked to secure funding for a number of local projects, including $60 million for the new Masontown Bridge Construction in 2010, with discretionary money from the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation.
“I was also able to convince my commissioner colleagues to advance the Mon-Fayette Expressway project to completion in Pittsburgh, after it had been tabled at a prior SPC meeting in 2017,” Vicites said. “That project is paramount to continued success in not only Fayette County, but the entire region.”
The commission operates with public involvement and trust to develop plans and programs for public investments; and fulfill federal and state requirements for transportation, economic development and local government assistance programs.
As the region’s official metropolitan planning organization, SPC directs the use of state and federal transportation and economic development funds allocated to the region – about $35 billion through 2045. In addition to Fayette County, the commission includes the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Green, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
Vicites said he hopes his second-in-command office will allow him to better position Fayette County for growth and opportunities.
“I’m most looking forward to continuing my work on our ongoing transportation and infrastructure projects,” Vicites said. “In this role, I can ensure Fayette County gets its fair share of the funding, in order to maximize our local development.”
To learn more about the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, visit www.spcregion.org.
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