Kasunic upset with talk about expressway delays
State Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar, is known for his mild temperament. But Thursday he flashed his temper when the possibility of more delays was raised in building the Mon/Fayette Expressway from Uniontown to Brownsville.
“I was listening to the consultants talk, and I was sitting there just stewing,’ said Kasunic. “I couldn’t wait for those guys to stop talking so I could jump in there and let them know how I felt. I think they were taken back when I started talking and they could see how upset I was.
“I told them that we’ve been patient long enough in getting this road built, and we’re not going to wait any longer,’ added Kasunic. “I told them we won’t accept any stoppage or slowdown. To say that I was upset is putting it mildly.’
Kasunic’s outburst came during a meeting in Washington County between Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials and various planning, agency and local elected officials, including Kasunic and state Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Uniontown.
Kasunic said his ire was raised to a boil when David Zazworsky, an engineer for the turnpike commission, said the Brownsville section would have to be shelved because of funding problems.
Kasunic said his message must have got through because Zazworsky apologized after the meeting for saying the section was “shelved.’
“He (Zazworsky) admitted that what he said was inappropriate,’ said Kasunic. “What he said really got my attention, and I wanted to make sure he understood how I felt.’
Kasunic said he was upset by other comments at the meeting by people saying that money should go to other sections of the highway for planning and design. Kasunic said if the turnpike commission put all the money for the other sections into the Uniontown to Brownsville section, it could be completed without any problems.
“I understand they have financial problems,’ said Kasunic. “But they should at least finish our section of the expressway. They then can worry about finishing the other sections. It only makes sense to complete the expressway from Interstate 68 in West Virginia to Interstate 70 in Pennsylvania. Then, we’d have a good portion of the expressway finished.
“The legislators from these other areas haven’t supported the expressway before so why should they get the money now. If they would have supported a gas tax increase, we could have had the Uniontown to Brownsville section finished by now,’ he added.
Kasunic said it remains to be seen if the turnpike commission will appropriate the $450 million to finish the expressway near Brownsville. He said he’ll be meeting with turnpike officials early next week along with legislators, and he plans to continue pushing the fight to get the highway completed.
“This will be an important meeting, and we’ll see what happens, but I intend to let them know how I feel. We’ve said it for a long time that the expressway is the lifeblood of this area, and we can’t let it slip away now that we’re finally starting to see some light ahead.’
Kasunic added that he asked what would happen if the turnpike is sold as proposed by Gov. Ed Rendell. Kasunic said he was told that the sale would probably mean that no more sections would be built.
“It looks like this could be something else we’re going to have to fight,’ said Kasunic. “I’ve promised to do whatever I can to build this expressway, and I’m not going to stop ’til it’s built.’
Kasunic said he has the full support of the local legislative delegation in the highway battle.
“I know that representatives Mahoney, Kula, DeWeese and Daley are all behind me in this. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep this thing moving, and I know they will too.’