Dec 2, 2003 By April Straughters 7 min read

Jim Marzullo said his love for his community motivated him to stand up over a decade ago and take action against the decision to drop the Uniontown-to-Brownsville link of the Mon-Fayette Expressway. Marzullo spoke out fervently against the decision, which was ultimately reversed because of the public outcry.

Since then, he has continued to watch vigilantly as plans for the link have progressed.

It was October 1992, when Marzullo, while thoroughly reading his newspaper as he says he always does, found out that the state had decided to “scrap” the Uniontown-to-Brownsville link of the Mon/Fayette Expressway project.

Marzullo said he closely followed the slow progress of the Mon/Fayette Expressway project since it was proposed in the ’70s, and like many others throughout the Fayette County area, anxiously anticipated the economic growth expected to come with the improvement in transportation.

“When the word came out that the project was scrapped. I was incensed about it,” Marzullo said. “I was sick and tired of Fayette County being ignored. I didn’t feel our elected officials were doing enough at the time. They were just accepting this as the norm. I saw that it was up to the people to let the officials know of our dissatisfaction.”

So Marzullo, who adopted Fayette County as his home in 1960 when he relocated here from the New Kensington area, took action.

Sitting in his Isabella home, Marzullo fondly remembers the battle to have the decision reversed.

Marzullo said he first contacted the Herald-Standard, where he had read the article, to make people aware of the situation. Then he contacted his local elected officials, who told him he didn’t have a “chance in hell to reverse the decision.”

“They told me too many strong political people were against it (the Mon/Fayette Expressway),” he said. “I told them to watch us (reverse the decision).”

Next, Marzullo said he organized an informational meeting that attracted more than 100 people. That led to the formation of the Fayette Expressway Completion Organization (FAECO), which led the battle to have the link reinstated.

“I didn’t know those people, and they didn’t know me. We were just a bunch of people being informed, who banded together for a common goal. That was the birth of FAECO. We were very blessed with some of the most dedicated people, willing to give all they have to help the county, with little recognition,” Marzullo said.

According to Marzullo, it wasn’t long before more and more people became attracted to the cause. He said more than 200 people signed on to help with the effort to reverse the state decision.

“We needed a show of strength from the residents,” he said.

So, Marzullo said, the group conducted a strong petition drive centered at the Uniontown Mall as well as through petitions that were printed in the Herald-Standard and over two weekends acquired 26,000 signatures supporting the completion of the Mon/Fayette Expressway.

“We worked our butts off to get those signatures. People were happy and gave their support,” he said. “It was amazing to me. It was an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

But FAECO’s efforts didn’t stop at petitioning, Marzullo said they also organized a rally at the Rotunda in Harrisburg, where they had their message displayed on billboards that were paid for by donations. He said about 174 people of all ages attended the rally.

“We showed the commitment of Fayette County, that we will not be denied,” he said. “Too long in Fayette County we were willing to accept the crumbs while other parts of the state enjoyed the full loaf of bread and that is no longer.”

Marzullo said at first he didn’t get a welcome response from elected officials, who he said seemed more concerned about his motivation than his cause.

“A lot of phone calls were not returned. There was a lot of distrust. A lot of people thought I was doing it just to get into office. I was labeled a radical, but I never strayed from our goal,” Marzullo said, adding that all the local officials are on board now.

“We’ve had overwhelming support from our local elected officials from township supervisors to the county level and up,” he said.

“We forced some of our local officials into action by public demands. I think that was an eye-opener right there in Fayette County,” he said. “Elected officials do what the people want them to do.”

Marzullo said the group got the attention of Gov. Robert Casey, who eventually put the link back on the drawing board as part of the Mon-Fayette Expressway.

“Thank goodness for Gov. Casey. He listened to the people,” Marzullo said.

The Uniontown-to-Brownsville link is in the final design stages with construction expected to begin in early 2006.

According to Marzullo, Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Dunbar) was able to secure $250 million, almost half of the funds needed for the $600 million project.

Marzullo said the whole experience has left him with admiration and respect for Kasunic, who he said, “has been on board since day one.”

“Kasunic has been a real fighter for the expressway,” he said.

But with only half the money in place for the project, Marzullo said the link is far from finished and much work still needs to be done. Marzullo said he checks with Harrisburg every two weeks just to make sure that things are moving along.

“This is not over until we are riding on that road. I’ll stay on top of this until then and follow everything closely. Past experience has told Fayette County that you never take anything for granted,” Marzullo said, adding that he is confident that the Mon/Fayette Expressway will be completed.

“I’m confident with the support of Kasunic, (Sen. Barry) Stout (D-Bentleyville), (Rep. H. William) DeWeese (D-Waynesburg), (Rep. Larry) Roberts (D-South Union), (Rep. Peter J.) Daley (D-California), (Rep. James) Shaner (D-Dunbar) and (Rep. Jess) Stairs (R-Acme) we will see this thing through. It really has been a concerted effort from the state to the local level. (Fayette County Commissioner) Vince Vicites has been on top of this before he even got elected. I’m confident that everything will fall into place.”

“This isn’t a park. This is something that is needed. This is a necessity. That’s why there’s so much support,” Marzullo said.

But Marzullo admits that while there are many who support the expressway, there are some who do not. He said some people have even stopped speaking to him because of his stand.

“I don’t worry about it. In my heart I know that I’m working for the betterment of this community. I won’t gain a thing from this. I don’t want recognition. I feel uncomfortable with the attention I do get. It’s a group effort,” he said.

Marzullo, 63, described FAECO as a “people’s group’ and declined to take any credit for its accomplishments.

“I am nothing more than the big mouth of the group. This has been a group effort from the start. No one person can take credit,” he said, adding that FAECO, now embarking on its 11th year, has 12 active members, including seven original members.

Marzullo said that FAECO worked “hundreds and hundreds of hours” to overturn that decision, but he said it was a “labor of love” that taught him a lesson of a lifetime.

“People have to speak up for their rights. People complaining in their living room is not enough. If an issue is important enough to you, you should speak up, attend meetings and talk to the right people. The worst thing in Fayette County is people’s willingness to accept things, thinking they can’t do anything about it. Sometimes you have to say enough is enough,” he said.

As Marzullo looks back on his experience, he says love for his community was the motivation through it all.

“It’s been a journey of love with Fayette County, that’s all it is,” he said.