Of the fox and the henhouse

There is a long-held notion that the construction of an expressway between Pittsburgh and West Virginia via the economically-depressed Monogahela River Valley is the kick in the ass that this area needs in order to… well, I’m not exactly sure. But is sure is a great way to get money in the hands of friends, family, and potential political donors!

It’s a stupid idea that blithely ignores any consideration of the future of motoring in this country, not to mention the environmental ramifications, the destruction of entire towns, and the futility of it all thanks to induced demand.

Progress on the project is moving along at a glacial pace, thankfully, and the latest assessment of the state of things confirms as much.

Although times look bleak for this ill-fated project, one can always count on the endless stream of contractors, consultants, and advisors nuzzling up to the tit of public funding to provide sunny assessments of the situation. Like this one, for example:

David Zazworsky, special consultant to the turnpike for the expansion project, discussed the latest hurdles facing completion of the second largest new-highway-construction project in the United States.

“It hit home when I (recently) read about the population losses in Allegheny County,” he said. “What would help reverse that loss more than any other thing would be completing this project,” the northern link in the 70-mile highway now about half built in the Monongahela River corridor south to the West Virginia border.

Great idea, my man. The best way to stem the county’s population loss? Give them a faster way out.

I believe what Mr. Zazworsky meant to say is this:

“It hit home when I (recently) read about the population losses in Allegheny County looked at my retirement savings,” he said. “What would help reverse that loss more than any other thing my eventual forced sale of my vacation home would be completing this project,” the northern link in the 70-mile highway now about half built in the Monongahela River corridor south to the West Virginia border.

April 26 2007