Light rail push overdue

I believe very strongly that the Inland Northwest politicians and Spokane Transit are failing to move forward at an adequate pace to build or even consider light rail for the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area.

It wouldn’t be a cheap undertaking, but the benefits would be huge. It would open up new job markets and get people to work in places that maybe they couldn’t make it to before, therefore getting more people back to work. It would also send the message that the Inland Northwest cares about our future. More and more people move to the area all the time, and with that comes congestion and smog that will only get worse if we wait any longer.

The support is there and is stronger than before, and the costs, which could be shared among many agencies, would pay off for them and the entire region. This is a business- and citizen-friendly idea that isn’t new but seems to be dead on arrival as far as people of importance are concerned. I urge all who read this to write your councilmen, congressmen, etc. and tell them Spokane and Coeur d’Alene need light rail now.

Matthew Behringer

Post Falls