Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 5:19AM | 
MENU
Advertisement

The Mon-Fayette Expressway is crucial for the Mon corridor

The Mon-Fayette Expressway is crucial for the Mon corridor

The April 23 editorial “The $2 Billion Question: The Mon-Fayette Extension Is Not the Best Use for This Money” overlooked major assets of the expressway project and, even more puzzling, called for Mon-Fayette Expressway funding to be spent outside of the southwestern Pennsylvania region.

Two economic studies on the PA Route 51 to I-376 Expressway project cited significantly improved highway access for major brownfield developments, improved access for Mon Valley communities, major local construction employment and long-term employment gains of nearly 20,000 new jobs. Post-Gazette articles included major findings of these reports.

The potential of linking an extension of the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway to a proposed expressway interchange in East Pittsburgh would broaden expressway benefits to also include a multimodal function. Construction of the busway extension, currently under study by the Port Authority, would serve transit systems throughout the region and provide direct mass transit access into the city of Pittsburgh, thus relieving congestion on the Parkway East. With engaged local leadership, we could see construction on the expressway begin within five years.

Advertisement

Rather than turning its back on the still-suffering Mon Valley, the Post-Gazette should call for quick action by the  Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission to approve the Mon-Fayette Expressway and ask the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to place a high priority on construction of this crucial project.

ROBERT MACEY
Member of Allegheny County Council
District 9
West Mifflin

 

First Published: April 30, 2017, 4:00 a.m.

Advertisement
RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) slides after making a first down and is hit by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (0) and safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh.
1
sports
Gerry Dulac: Steelers might not have to run far to find next year's QB
Sen. John Fetterman arrives for the inauguration ceremony where Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th  President in the United States on Jan. 20, 2025.
2
news
'Democracy for sale' or a 'Golden Age': Pa. lawmakers respond to President Donald Trump's inauguration
As a Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus was lifted to be towed, smoke started to billow as a fire restarted on 5Th ave on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Oakland.
3
news
Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus catches fire in Oakland
A City of Pittsburgh River Rescue boat navigates through ice on the Allegheny River Downtown on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Pittsburgh is under a cold weather advisory until Wednesday.
4
news
Pittsburgh's deep freeze has arrived — but the coldest temps are still to come
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium announced the death of a 17-year-old Masai giraffe named Sox. The zoo said Sox was euthanized on Jan. 17, 2025.
5
local
Pittsburgh zoo announces death of 17-year-old giraffe Sox
Advertisement
LATEST opinion
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story