From the INBOX - Green Before the Deficienct
Posted by Andy on August 7th, 2007
Here’s a link that just came in regarding how the 35W bridge was not on anyone’s radar screen in DC.
The 2005 highway bill might best be remembered for the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere.” But also included in the legislation were 6,300 other earmarks that totaled $24.2 billion.
Minnesota, site of the heart-breaking I-35W bridge collapse, received 147 earmarks, which totaled about $495 million, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense. They included “high priority” projects such as $1.578 million for bicycle trail construction, $1.3 million for a new visitor’s center, and $1.52 for streetscape construction.
I couldn’t find any earmarks related to the I-35W bridge. (There was $7.6 million appropriated for on-ramps to I-35W, but not near the bridge.)
There’s no way of knowing whether extra money for the bridge would have prevented its collapse. But it’s certainly worth asking if House Transportation Chairman Jim Oberstar of Minnesota should have been less concerned about taking care of bicyclists and put a higher priority on the state’s other transportation needs.
(there’s links with in the original post, please go to the link above to follow them)
Oberstar was not Transportation Committee Chair until this January when Democrats took the gavel, and to be fair, (he lives in Maryland) but represents the northeast corner of the state, hundred of miles from the 35W bridge that collapsed.
BUT!!!
The former Representative of the 5th District which the bridge is in, was a 30 some year incumbent Democrat, Martin Sabo. He is the one who should be noted for not prioritizing this bridge if any blame is to be passed. I’m really not so sure we should be, BUT it is important to keep the players all straight. And to keep track that there was a social agenda taking priority over infrastructure.
An interesting note is if there was a transportation bill this year? (I can’t remember.) And if the 35W bridge was included in requests…. before the collapse. Keith Ellison is the new Democrat where the bridge is located.
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