A Carnegie woman has offered to lead a rebellion to expedite improvements to the so-called "Death Stretch" of Route 28 between the North Side and Millvale after the highway claimed another life last weekend.

"We need to do whatever it takes to stop the carnage before others are killed," Mari L. Murphy e-mailed. "How many more people must perish on this awful road before the residents, PennDOT, the [closed St. Nicholas] church and others get their act together and make it safe?"

A 19-year-old Bethel Park woman was killed and five people were injured after a violent two-vehicle crash south of the 40th Street Bridge late last Saturday night.

Mrs. Murphy, who travels Route 28 often, said the accident "hit home" this time because she had a distant acquaintance with the victim.

She acknowledged careless driving has been responsible for some accidents, but such design factors as narrow lanes and the lack of a concrete barrier separating the north and south lanes could have contributed to many tragedies.

Although it carries heavy traffic and is officially part of a designated expressway, it's really only an extension of an old city street, East Ohio Street.

Transportation planners first recommended upgrading the 2.5-mile stretch of Route 28 back in 1963. But indecision, lack of funds, low priority, government inaction, special interests and one obstacle or excuse after another have kept improvements from happening.

In recent years, the state Department of Transportation has been slowly advancing an admittedly complex project. The estimated $190 million cost of several years ago has been trimmed back to the $130 million-to-$140 million range because of design changes and a bit of downsizing. As of now, the work is to be done in stages, starting in 2009 -- if funds are available, that is.

Mrs. Murphy, a risk management resources professional, wants to make sure there are no more empty promises or further delays.

"I am advising friends of this effort to make the 'Death Stretch' a thing of the past," she wrote. "We need to make sure it happens in our lifetime. Enough is enough."

She has invited concerned citizens and families of previous Route 28 accident victims to contact her at 412-278-0677 or, preferably, to e-mail her at marykacz@comcast.net.

"I have the time and this issue is important," Mrs. Murphy said. "Let's get together and talk about mounting a people's rebellion."

Question on 31st Street Bridge

PennDOT and city officials reopened the landmark 31st Street Bridge Wednesday after a two-year rehabilitation, but Bob Kordella of Mt. Lebanon wonders why PennDOT didn't do anything with the section between Herr's Island and Route 28.

"Not even a fresh coat of paint to hide the rust," he said. "How can they justify an incomplete rehab after how long that lady has been shut down?"

To be fair, PennDOT explained from the start that the northern end that interfaces with River Avenue would be rebuilt when the aforementioned stretch of Route 28 is rebuilt east of the former Heinz plant. That's because the 31st Street Bridge intersection will become a reconfigured, grade-separate interchange providing free-flowing lanes for "thru" traffic on Route 28.

PennDOT would have wasted money painting the rusted north span when it plans a reconstruction in three or four years.

Mr. Kordella could help hold PennDOT's feet to fire to do what should have been done years ago by supporting Mrs. Murphy.

Rider report

Robert Morris, also of Mt. Lebanon, a regular light-rail rider, thinks the 25-cent increase in the Port Authority's base fare to go into effect Jan. 1 is fair and reasonable.

"Look at the price of diesel fuel alone," he e-mailed. "My new Zone 1 monthly pass will be $75. No one likes to see costs go up, but an extra $15 a month is not going to kill me. It still beats the cost of gas and parking."

Driver report

Another question from a Mt. Lebanon resident. John Brown has been entering the Parkway West at Carnegie for 10 years and always believed he'd be involved in an accident someday because of the short acceleration lane and "people generally driving like idiots."

But PennDOT extended the lane this summer to provide for a safer, free-flowing traffic merge onto the busy highway in the westbound direction.

"Please pass along my thanks to the folks at PennDOT for a decision that probably did not cost a lot of money but did a lot of good and could save lives," Mr. Brown e-mailed.

Another kudo

PennDOT District 12, covering Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette and Greene counties, has received a prestigious 2007 national award from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for "project delivery."

In case you're wondering, it means the district established standards in design, construction and maintenance that saved taxpayers money -- $16 million over the past two years.

And it means PennDOT will be able to do $16 million worth of additional road and bridge improvements not in its original spending plans.