May 13, 2007 By Joseph P. Kirk 3 min read

It’s time to end the hand wringing and inaction regarding funding for the PA Route 51 to I-376 Mon Valley/Fayette Expressway and pursue a totally different strategy. Contrary to recent media reports that followed public pronouncements by our governor, local political leaders, and officials of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), there is a way to ensure timely development of this crucial project.

This optimism is not a case of hyperbole. It is the recognition that privatization is a viable option that should be aggressively pursued for development of the Allegheny County section of the expressway project.

With projected traffic volumes in excess of 50,000 cars a day, the 24-mile Mon Valley/Fayette Expressway is a prime candidate for a public/private partnership. And, the Squirrel Hill Tunnel bypass section could be the best place to start.

Yes, public funding will likely be necessary to complete the funding package. But our region has used this combination of public and private funding for a host of major projects including two brand new shiny stadiums and a third one on the way.

A public/private partnership on the expressway also provides a major opportunity to reduce spiraling costs on this multi-billion dollar project.

The next step is to get the ball rolling. Rather than waiting for political pronouncements, hearings or the formation of special commissions, the Mon Valley Progress Council intends to seek letters of interest from private firms to develop the 24-mile expressway project.

The Progress Council will then form a board-based committee of community leaders and financial experts to review the proposals.

The requests for interest in constructing the expressway will include the option to develop the Squirrel Hill Tunnel bypass as a separate project.

Technical information to be made available to interested firms or parties is a matter of public record.

In addition to detailing their experience in public/private partnerships, firms will be asked to review ways to reduce costs, provide a projection of private support, develop tolling options, and detail the amount of public support necessary to complete the package.

The top three proposals will be submitted to the PTC. At that time, all proposals will be made public, including posting of the proposals on the Progress Council’s Web site.

The Progress Council will commit to work with the successful firm selected by the PTC on public funding for the project.

The Mon Valley Progress Council is committed to commence the process to seek letters of interest on May 14.

All proposals, including the top three recommendations, will be submitted to the PTC no later than August 1, 2007.

We trust that the PTC will readily accept this honest attempt to advance a project that began with a community’s recognition that a new transportation network is essential for its economic survival.

Joseph P. Kirk is executive director of the Mon Valley Progress Council and chairman of the Mon-Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway Alliance. Kirk has over 30 years of experience in economic development and holds a masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Pittsburgh.

The Progress Council is widely recognized as leading advocate for the Mon Valley/Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway projects.