Jul 22, 2007 3 min read

Back in late April, state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic (D-Dunbar) blew his stack when a top engineer for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said that due to lack of funding, the Uniontown to Brownsville portion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway would have to be “shelved.” Within days, Kasunic put forth a proposal to find the needed $450 million by accumulating money earmarked for studies, design work and right-of-way acquisition on sections not yet ready for construction. Nine weeks later, that idea has apparently become reality, likely due to a combination of Kasunic’s suave behind-the-scenes work and a muscle-flexing show of strength by the area’s state House delegation. While Kasunic may have laid some groundwork that softened the beach with turnpike officials, the frontal assault occurred during what state Rep. H. William “Bill” DeWeese described as “aggressive and bare-knuckled negotiation” over the recently completed state budget.

DeWeese, who serves as House majority leader, and Democratic state Reps. Peter J. Daley II of California, Timothy S. Mahoney of South Union Township and Deberah Kula of North Union Township agreed to support a new transportation plan only if it included enough money to finish the aforementioned expressway link. As part of their effort, they insisted that the turnpike commission produced a letter confirming in principle that Phase II of the Uniontown to Brownsville link, which includes a new bridge over the Monongahela River, would be completed.

Of particular note, DeWeese, whose 50th District includes economically distressed Brownsville Borough, said he probably would have withheld support for the transportation bill without the turnpike’s commitment. And if DeWeese, as majority leader, had gone that route, it’s likely that he would have taken others south with him.

Whether it’s Kasunic teeing off and putting forth a solid plan to accomplish a goal, or Daley claiming that he was going to go to “war” if expressway money wasn’t part of the transportation deal, or DeWeese raising the specter of withholding his support, the end result is that all three approaches show the determination and leadership needed to get things done.

Keep in mind that less than three months ago, at a meeting in Washington County, the Brownsville to Uniontown link was in danger of having its plug pulled. Now, because different types of clout were used at different stages, we’re looking at having an expressway that runs without interruption from I-68 in West Virginia to Route 51 at Large, in Pittsburgh’s South Hills.

DeWeese and Kasunic are confident that Joseph A. Brimmeier, the turnpike’s chief executive officer, will follow through on his pledge to scrape together the $450 million needed to finish our portion of the expressway. When that happens, 60 miles of the long-awaited project will be completed – which is no small accomplishment.

We’ve said all along that when it comes to our legislators, we’ll give credit where it is due. This is one of those times.