Mass transportation a need for valley residents
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. The end of the year. Time to celebrate getting through another one and look forward to the hope that next year will be better than the last. Gather with friends and watch the party in Times Square as the huge ball of lights drops, marking the start of 2009 on the East Coast.
Many in the Bitterroot will attend or host parties to welcome the new year. For those who drink a little too much or for some reason need a ride home, the options are limited to say the least. With a single taxi service and no other forms of public transportation, valley residents need to plan ahead for getting home responsibly.
Public transportation is an issue that will become more important as more people move into the valley. One of the most common objections to a rail line to Missoula is the lack of public transportation once commuters arrive. We can not decrease the number of vehicles on the road without providing some method of transportation for people that need to get around town.
An aging population also presents a need for greater public transportation. The problems that come with age can often make driving more difficult. Without a bus service or large fleet of taxi cabs these citizens are forced to continue driving, putting themselves and others at risk. Providing reliable and consistent public transportation would give them the independence they deserve and make the roads safer for everyone.
Our valley has become far too dependent on cars as the sole method of transportation. The ever-increasing traffic on U.S. 93 and all valley roads contributes to poor air quality and increasing noise pollution. The increased traffic also comes with an increase in traffic accidents and commuter hours. All of these problems could be greatly reduced with the implementation of a comprehensive public transportation strategy.
In recent days there has been increased discussion of the idea of the rail line to Missoula. Hamilton City Council passed a resolution in support of the idea. It is time for all the groups passing resolutions in support of the rail line and start putting their support into action. Public transportation isn’t just a good idea, it’s a need.
A comprehensive plan should be assembled immediately to present to the incoming Obama administration. There are sure to be billions of dollars doled out in the coming months for public works projects around the country. If local governments work together and come up with a viable plan, great public transportation in Bitterroot and Missoula counties could become a reality in a couple years rather than a decade or more.
For now however, all we can do is encourage readers to be responsible this New Year’s Eve. Choose a designated driver for the evening so that no one drives home drunk. Don’t let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve had too much to drink. A drunk driving arrest or worse, an accident, is no way to start the new year.
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Reader's Comments >>
ICT JON wrote on Jan 4, 2009 7:56 AM:
Bitterrooters have already shown their displeasure at the prospect of more taxes, so politicians will have to one whale of a sales job if it can be economically justified. "
bdub wrote on Jan 2, 2009 7:24 AM:
This is a bad idea - put money into the school system before you waste it on a rail system to nowhere. How about a greatly needed update to school facilities for Corvallis where a recent bond was recently rejected as too much of a tax burden on the population. What about Stevensville children who desperately need attention for their schools.
Why are we even entertaining spending money anywhere else?
If Obama wants to throw money out for public works-by all means grab that cash and give it to our children and the future of the Bitterroot. Not a new museum piece which is what the light rail train will become when nobody can afford to ride it. "