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LATEST LETTERS

Don’t Bury Transit

Friday, July 13 at 2:00 PM

Robert Brewster of Golden writes:

July 7 marks the 2nd anniversary of the London subway and bus bombings that killed dozens of transit riders. Many years prior, there was the sarin nerve gas attack in the Tokyo subway. Several weeks ago, two commuter trains collided in an underground tunnel in Philadelphia. The common thread through these events is the difficulty in evacuating large numbers of people from a tomb-like encasement, possibly with no power, lighting, or ventilation.
That vulnerability makes below ground populations preferred targets for those who wish us harm, whether homegrown or otherwise.
While we must never cower in the face of such threats, we musn’t make it easy for deliberate actions against us nor difficult for the transit patrons and emergency responders to reach safety. The Department of Homeland Security is seeking funding to construct a simulated transportation tunnel at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo to evaluate those very situations that could potentially cause death and serious injury on a large scale.
Which brings us to the proposal for Denver Union Station, where massive holes in the ground will house our future commuter rail and express bus services.
One might wonder why our regional planners insist on a more than $200 million excavation project, principally for a one block extension of 18th Street, that compromises expansion capacity, public convenience, and safety. Indeed.
There are better, less costly solutions for our Grand Transportation Hub and the desired development around it. More citizens need to get involved in this process and start asking the pertinent questions about our essential transportation future.
Thank you for your consideration for publication.

This letter has not been edited.

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