TRAFFIC CONGESTION: Solutions need open minds

Shame on the four board members of the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization who oppose the creation of a much-needed regional traffic management center.

Due to decades of growth and overtaxed infrastructure, regional traffic congestion is a major concern that poses a great risk to both our safety and quality of life. A regional traffic management center would provide us with the ability to real-time monitor and manipulate select traffic corridors to optimize peak and emergency traffic.

The Orwellian comments by KMPO board members that federal funding of the center would result in tracking of our movements and morph into aversion against the people is laughable and completely absurd. I suppose these same board members carry cell phones that while giving great benefits enable far greater tracking of their movements than a center monitoring a few traffic signals would ever do.

KMPO needs to address the growing threat of traffic congestion and the creation of a regional traffic management center would help alleviate the problem.

Please join me in voicing your concern to KMPO board members to be proactive in alleviating traffic congestion by supporting this much-needed and federally earmarked-enhancement.

JON INGALLS

Coeur d’Alene