Mark,
Thanks for the note. I share many of your same views. Cannot understand
why our politicians sit idly by doing nothing.
I particularly agree with your stand on the Pa Turnpike Toll Road up the
Mon Valley to Pittsburgh. Why do we need it. Let's take a portion of the
money to fix-up and widen the roads we already have. Why destroy so many
older towns and communities in the Mon Valley with a road that nobody wants
or needs or will benefit from. Plus, why scar the beautiful Mon riverscape
the same way the Allegheny riverscape was scarred years ago with Route 28.
How hard would it be to put a third tunnel through Squirrel Hill that would
provide additional lanes that could be alternated inbound/outbound at
different hours of the day depending on rush hour traffic flow. Penn DOT
completed the design back in the 70's, but never went ahead with them.
Let's pull those plans out of the drawer and finally put them to good use.
Also, maglev will solve many of transportation problems in the area, so we
would do well to lobby harder for the maglev project. Plus look at the
jobs and technology it will bring to Pittsburgh and the region. With the
recent news that Maryland wants to pull out of the competition, seems we
should be able to secure the project and the funding almost immediately.
Then there is the Port Authority's North Shore Connector. What a
boondoggle! Why spent the additional $250 million to bore twin tunnels
under the river when there is an existing railroad bridge just upriver with
an abandoned lower deck that could just as easily be used to cross the
river for a heck of lot less cost. The Hot Metal Bridge on the South Side
was rehab'd for $35 million. Can't imagine rehabing the railroad bridge
for light rail would be much different. That saves more than $200+ million
for other things more important to this city and region. And if the
railroad balks at using the abandoned lower deck, Dr. George White proposes
to take ownership of it by eminent domain and share duel ownership of the
bridge with the railroad. Seems like a gutsy way to handle things if the
railroad tries to play hardball and take advantage of the situation.
Why can't our elected politicians move forward on some of these ideas
rather than paying for study after study and debating things ad infinitum.
It is so frustrating when realizing how much better things could be.
Keep pressing ahead. You are one of the few being heard out there and
actually accomplishing something good for all of us.
Thanks,
Chuck McKelvey
Thanks for the kind words and the sharing of your ideas. These interactions are very necessary. Yes, we do need to keep pressing ahead.
It would be wonderful to put a third tunnel through Squirrel Hill. Perhaps the lanes would not even need to alternate inbound/outbound?
