Thruway update

The July 3 (2010) Daily Item contains an extended story about more small steps in the Thruway saga. One new piece of information involves the fabled "swap" that would have to take place in order to get the Thruway onto the radar for the Appalachian Regional Commission. The proposed stretch for a swap is not on the 50 year plan, and runs parallel to a now existing stretch of I-99. The argument is that this other proposed corridor is not needed and never will be. At a bare minimum, it isn't needed in anything like the way the CSVT is needed.

Ryan Unger reported in June that it's all or nothing right now. If this breakthrough doesn't happen in the next year, we'll be looking at splitting up the project, leading to another long delay.

Here's my thought: an on-line petition aimed at residents and also at non-residents who pass through. If we don't have enough people power to pass out hand bills to trucks stopped in traffic on the golden strip, how about a billboard and a website? An on-line petition of some sort?

The message should be simple and direct--something that people can deliver clearly to elected (and unelected) officials throughout this whole tangled process: BUILD IT. (The Thruway.)

The Thruway is the weak link in a chain of highway from Canada to Baltimore. Something like 24 traffic lights--stop and go traffic at random times throughout the day. And that doesn't even mention the abuse the Northumberland has to endure with all those trucks--90% of which are just trying to get somewhere else.

Anybody have experience with on-line petitions? It seems like a Facebook Group might work, but a direct e-mail campaign might send the message farther. I like the billboard idea because I think the papers would cover the story, especially if we could put together a few thousand signatures. If I hear some support I'll start looking into what it would cost and what kind of technical know-how is involved.

The one advantage here is that it's hard to find anyone who's against it. It comes down to money. So maybe we also have to propose some ways to pay for it. I would support tolling the new bridge if it comes to that, even though in general I don't like tolls (and Ryan Unger indicated that there are a bunch of legal problems with the idea). If the bridge were tolled, the trucking companies who would be benefiting greatly from the enhanced infrastructure would be helping to pay for it.