Without a doubt, the best and worst transportation news of 2014-15 is the much-desired-but-short-lived commercial air service between St. Cloud Regional Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

After more than a decade of work by local airport supporters to attract service, SkyWest announced in February that the twice-daily flights would start in May. By December, though, passenger loads were not what parent company United needed, so on Christmas Eve it was announced that these flights are set to be suspended in April.

Ouch. Just. Ouch.

Certainly, it's encouraging that supporters already have Gov. Mark Dayton in their corner as they look for ways to keep those flights operating. Honestly, though, it will take a lot more support — locally, statewide and even at the federal level — to reverse United's plans.

As if that's not enough to start the new year, it's quite possible that answers for the second-biggest transportation challenge of 2015 could be clear (or not) by the end of May. Elected leaders at the federal and state levels need to pass comprehensive funding packages for transportation. Failure to do so (a common occurrence the past several years) could dictate the speed of your drive time for years to come.

Without substantial legislation passed at both levels, Minnesotans can count on little more than a short-term "basic maintenance" approach to state and federal transportation systems. Yet as a fast-growing regional center on Interstate 94 — the busiest truck corridor outstate — that's exactly what the St. Cloud area does not want to see happen.

Unfortunately, avoiding it means convincing lawmakers (most of whom don't like tax increases but also want better roads) to fashion some pretty hefty compromises in St. Paul and Washington, D.C.

At the federal level, a "continuing resolution" expires June 1. At the state level, legislators convene Jan. 6 and are set to adjourn May 18.

With those dates in mind — and now seeing O'Hare air service in jeopardy — it's clear that this area is in for a fast, furious first few months of 2015 as solutions are sought to keep people moving in, through and beyond Central Minnesota.

FROM AN EDITORIAL IN THE ST. CLOUD TIMES