editorials

BRIDGE FUNDS WELCOME

But DOT budget woes remain

Last week's release of an additional $123 million for a new I-35W bridge in Minneapolis should ease some of the financial pressure on state transportation officials, and give legislators more confidence in authorizing spending on the new span.

But finding the money for that project does not eliminate the chronic deficit in transportation funding, in Minnesota and the nation, noted a transportation expert for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL.)

While the I-35W bridge collapse called attention to the nation's weakening bridges, "the larger concern may be the everyday problems caused by poorly maintained infrastructure," writes Matt Sundeen of NCSL, in the magazine State Legislatures.

"Road conditions are a significant factor in approximately one-third of traffic deaths, killing approximately 14,000 people every year," Sundeen said.

"Driving on bumpy roads and bridges, falling concrete, and potholes cost U.S. motorists an estimated $67 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs -- as much as $333 per motorist. Outdated facilities can handle fewer vehicles at slower speeds, creating traffic congestion and costly delays."

Considering those costs puts the proper light on proposals for modest hikes in the taxes that pay for roads, bridges and transit.

A SMART CHOICE

Duckor good leader for libraries

Who'd take a job that's likely to disappear in a year or two? We're glad that Anita Duckor did. She's the new executive director of the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Libraries, a job expected to vanish as the consolidation of the Minneapolis and Hennepin County libraries goes forward.

Duckor has been an outstanding leader of the Minneapolis Library Board as it chose to end years of financial distress and diminishing services by consolidating with Hennepin County. She maintains that the combination can produce the best urban library system in the nation, and that the volunteer and donor organizations that support it ought to share the same lofty ambition for themselves. She's just the person to sell that vision.

BILLBOARD WARS

Reasonable compromise

A St. Paul Planning Commission subcommittee recently suggested a sensible trade-off to banish unsightly billboards. The panel recommended allowing electronic signs -- but with a catch.

The committee proposed that for each new square foot of digital billboard space created, four to six square feet of regular billboards must come down. That translates into removing about 100 traditional signs for every 10 new digital boards.

The idea is modeled after a Minnetonka ordinance that requires a billboard company to eliminate two regular signs for every one digital board. Next, the full Planning Commission and City Council will review the plan. City officials must adopt a final policy soon because a year-long moratorium on electronic billboards expires Jan. 23.

Like the regular signs, e-boards have their critics. Opponents worry that they dangerously distract motorists and and create mini-Times Squares in neighborhoods. However a billboard producer says the signs will not be flashing or rolling, and that images would remain constant for at least eight seconds.