Treat Interstates Like Freeways

Posted on February 20, 2007
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We talked on January 7 about about how automobile and truck traffic is swamping Pennsylvania’s highways. Last week we saw how a nasty snow and ice storm quickly caused disastrous miles-long backups and the closing of sections of Interstates 81, 78 and 80 for days. The images of unending lines of backed-up trucks and cars reinforced impressions of the increasingly fragile nature of highway transportation.

Pennsylvania’s Governor Ed Rendell has called on former FEMA director James Lee Witt to investigate how the tieup happened. But, however the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania State Police may be faulted in terms of storm-battling strategy, the swamping concern should also be addressed.

It’s too late to add balance to the Interstate system, at least anytime soon, in terms of reliever rail lines. So it appears we will have to treat those vulnerable highways as though they are California freeways, with traffic lights on the entry ramps and improved electronic communications to reduce miles-long backups arising from accidents or weather conditions.

Pennsylvania’s economy, as well as the safety of motorists, is at risk from anything less than a comprehensive communication approach to gridlock on the interstates.

Anna’s Right, But Who’s Listening?

Posted on February 13, 2007
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Anna Quindlen has an eloquent column in the February 19 Newsweek – “Tomorrow, Tomorrow” – explaining why it’s not worth another life for another day for U.S. troops to be in Iraq.

“But who will listen to her,” said my wife upon reading Anna’s piece.

Indeed, who listens to anyone in America anymore. By now, there should be such an outpouring of feeling against the reckless, arrogrant way in which we plunged into a culture we didn’t fathom that there wouldn’t be any question we should be out of Iraq. But we’re out shopping, watching football or basketball, dealing with office politics, showing extreme deference to the President (our President, after all), staying on the go in one way or another, that the only outpouring is heard at a biennial election – and not nearly loud enough even then.

“The people who brought America reports of WMDs when none existed, and the slogan ‘Mission Accomplished’ when it was not nor likely to be, now say that American troops cannot leave. Not yet. Not soon. Not on a timetable. Judge the truth of that conclusion by the truth of their past statements.”

Quite so, Anna. But who’s listening to you? Who, indeed, is listening to anyone in America? It seems we’re not tuned into meaning anymore. When, and how, will we start again?

Meanwhile, nameless people in the Administration are turning to Iran…

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