Editorial for February 28, 2008 edition:


On the road again

Who could have ever dreamed that America would elect a black president before the Woodhaven Road extension was built?
Sure enough, that might just happen, judging by public opinion polls and the public itself. For Barack Obama’s supporters, electing the junior senator from Illinois — who happens to be black — is the right thing to do and long overdue. That is subject to debate, but what’s not debatable is that getting the Woodhaven Road extension up and running is even more overdue, and, as chronic traffic jams on Byberry Road attest, it should have been done long before Barack Obama was a gleam in his father’s eye.
With a new batch of public meetings beginning this week, supporters of the extension and those misguided folks who oppose it will once again have a chance to discuss this most worthy project.
Regrettably, PennDOT has scaled back its plan to extend Woodhaven to Philmont Avenue in Lower Moreland and instead will end it at Bustleton Avenue. Half a loaf is better than no loaf at all, but hopefully, after the road is extended to Bustleton, area politicians and officials at PennDOT will develop the courage to do what is right by putting the full extension to Philmont Avenue back on the agenda — and then make it happen.
The first step is simple: Attend one or even all of the public meetings — dates, times and locations are in our story on Page 7 this week — get all the dirt on PennDOT’s plans and speak your mind. Fair-minded individuals will conclude that the project is worthy indeed.
The Woodhaven Road extension has been on the drawing board since Dwight David Eisenhower was president. With any luck, the project will begin before the automobile becomes obsolete. ••

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