It would be easy for members of the Route 228 Regional Corridor Alliance to throw up their hands in despair over the bleak prospects of a large-scale improvement project for the highway.

However, it's to their credit that, despite the formidable odds against such a project happening anytime soon, the group has committed itself to pressing on on behalf of the objective.

At a public meeting last Thursday, the alliance expressed determination to pursue widespread improvements to a 36-mile stretch between Route 65 in Beaver County and Buffalo Township in southeastern Butler County.

While such a large-scale venture might be out of the question for now and a number of years to come, the major improvements that the highway needs won't ever happen if the region gives up focusing on the big picture. The voices of people in Butler, Allegheny and Beaver counties must continue to be heard — and heard loudly — in Harrisburg and Washington.

Although the emphasis in Pennsylvania currently is on repair or replacement of structurally deficient bridges, that emphasis will not last forever. It's important for Butler County to have its foot in the door when the main emphasis shifts back to a highway-oriented agenda.

It remains important that the controversial issues and decisions surrounding Route 228 be resolved so that when that time comes, this county is not left watching while others are claiming road funds and having their highway issues addressed.

Diane Sheets, executive director of the Community Development Corporation of Butler County, made an excellent point at Thursday's meeting that should remain a central point in this region's efforts to convince Harrisburg and Washington about the need for large-scale Route 228 improvements and the money to pursue that goal.

Sheets reminded those in attendance that it's important "to recognize some of the fastest economic development in Pennsylvania, and that's right here in southwestern Pennsylvania."

She said the region isn't overbuilt and it's not poorly built.

"We have room to grow, room to develop," she said.

Sheets' comments expanded on the thought expressed by Susan Balla, Regional Corridor Alliance chairperson, who said the current notorious Route 228 congestion could discourage businesses from considering the highway corridor area for new or expanded opportunities.

Having had Westinghouse Electric commit to a new headquarters in Cranberry Township is no guarantee that others will follow up and down the corridor if there is poor highway access. Indeed, a committed group such as the regional alliance should have been formed two or three decades ago to persistently press for this worthy objective — when it became obvious that big change would engulf the road corridor.

Too bad the vision and determination weren't in place then. Unfortunately, the missed opportunities of the past will be more difficult and costly to resolve now and in the future.

And, the competition for highway funds will be no less formidable.

The message must continue to be delivered to all who are willing to listen — that Route 228 merits the attention that it so long has been denied.

Forty years ago, the bulk of the major highway construction was centered on places such as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Erie and other major metropolitan areas. Smaller cities and more rural developing areas such as southern Butler County were told "your day will come for getting the improvements that you need.

Route 228 attests to the fact that some areas, despite those promises, were forgotten.

The time has come for continual reminders of the broken promises.

The corridor alliance is on the right track, despite the bad odds. It should not become so discouraged that it feels a necessity to proclaim failure.