Priorities

Much has been said, in recent days, about Transportation and Bridge Inspection. EVERYONE it seems is an "expert" on the issue. There has been plenty of blame laid by the usual suspects. Yet no one seems to be talking about the important issues....where our priorities lie.

Here are a couple of things to think about.

1) The $250 million in Federal Emergency Funds are to replace the bridge that fell, not build an enhanced bridge. Yes it would be nice if there was space for the Central Corridor light rail tracks (more on this later) on the bridge, but if we can not do that there are ways of setting ourselves up for future tracks. Take a look at the new Bloomington Ferry Bridge! Notice the gap between the two spans. What do you suppose could be inserted there should the need arise? I don't know if it was planned that way, but it is possible.

2) The federal funds are emergency funds. If we show that we are not in a hurry to replace the bridge...that it's not an "emergency" to replace it, we could easily lose that federal funding and then who do you suppose will be on the hook for the entire replacement cost.

3) Putting the Central Corridor line on the new 35W bridge will take the train AWAY from a large chunk of their riders (the University). That kinda defeats the whole purpose of the rail line, doesn't it?

Yet given those three things, Mayor Ryback, the Minneapolis City Council and the DFLers in the Legislature are doing everything they can to slow down the process of replacing the new bridge!

"I'm going to need a lot of assurances that building it fast equals building it right," said Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope."

"U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL-St. Paul, was even more pointed: "[M]any people have expressed to me their extreme dismay at the frenzied rush to replace the bridge. A tragedy of this magnitude demands that we take a collective breath and assess the shortcomings of the old structure and the challenges of our future transportation needs. ... Unfortunately, it appears haste is governing how we move forward on planning and construction."

Yet these are the same people that are in a hurry to call a special legislative session to raise our taxes. If we are not going to build the bridge in a hurry, why should we be in such a huge hurry to raise the taxes? Ok...that's a rhetorical question...we all know the answer to that...

Some peoples priorities are getting the bridge rebuilt in order to ease the hardship on citizens and residents of the area surrounding the Bridge. Other peoples priorities seem to be in playing politics with the tragedy. I would like to ask that second group of politicians a couple of very pointed questions.

Are our priorities in the right place when our transit dollars are spent on things like rec centers and parks and trains? Are our priorities in the right place when we take money away from repairing bridges in the metro (which see hundreds of thousands of cars and trucks a day) and we put it into upgrading roads that are in good repair outstate? Are our priorities in order when transportation dollars go into museums and cultural centers? I would say the answer to those questions is a resounding "NO"!

We need politicians who will finally stand up and say "enough is enough". We need to put the needs of the citizens ahead of politics. We need to rebuild the bridge now with an eye to the future.

We can rebuild the bridge and make it possible for FUTURE light rail expansion.

For other takes on the last couple of days news on the bridge see AAA, Anti-Strib, Captain Ed, LFR and TvM.