My father, his five boys called him Ed, was a railroader. Ed started his career while studying at the University of Idaho—Southern Branch. You may know the school better by today’s name – Idaho State University. In l947 the name changed to Idaho State College and it earned university status in l963. I digress a bit, as the point is that the railroad was a critical industry during WWII and Ed and many others fought for the war effort at home. The railroad delivered the large naval guns to the Ordinance plant in Pocatello for retooling. The plant is still there with some of the heavy cranes that were required to manage the re-rifling of the big battleship guns still in place. I just discovered those guns were test fired near Arco at the Naval Proving Grounds – including during the Vietnam conflict. The Arco site was repurposed and became the Idaho National Lab.
You will recall the threat to our country created by the potential railway strike this past year. We are no longer reliant on the tracks to carry military items but the impact to the nation’s supply chains would have been a serious threat to our fragile economy. I was glad to hear at a Chamber Legislative Forum this week that the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed last year provides much needed funding to upgrade and assure that service. The funds can also be utilized for feasibility studies on short or mid range passenger rail transit. The State already received $30.9 million for other transportation projects.
Salt Lake City and the Wasatch front enjoys a well designed and efficient public transit system. The grid combines light rail and buses. You can enjoy the ride instead of the stress of driving in heavy traffic and occasionally in not great weather. Imagine a light rail system running from Caldwell to Boise and maybe one day Mountain Home. Continued investment in Highways to move people in our Valley is not a viable solution. A system would require the cities, counties, State, Federal funds, and private partners working in harmony to make it a reality. Other metro areas have proven that the “field of dreams”idea to get people out of their own cars can work. The Treasure Valley needs to build a coalition on this critical growth issue.
The picture is Ed and the boys. The one non negotiable issue for the boys was going to college. Hats off to Governor Little for his commitment to all levels of Education in Idaho.
Monday we celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King. In our trying times, I appreciate a bit of optimism and honesty, “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.”
I believe each of us can provide a bit of light this week.
Mike