Traffic plan's real goal is to eliminate byway

The Nov. 3 Daily Bee noted that Pierre Bordenave included the comment "I don't care how this happens or in what sequence, but we have to do something." In his presentation to a City Council workshop studying traffic flow issues in Sandpoint. His comments are close to the epitome of disingenuity. In the past few years he, along with Liz Sedler and the crew at NICAN, has fought at every turn the best single comprehensive solution for the traffic "… snarl of gridlock that has plagued the city for years …" After some five years as the current iteration of the bypass construction project has been fought, all we have are numerous stakes with multi-colored ribbons on them. There is little doubt that the "Field of Stakes" is the direct result of the endless delaying tactics mounted by NICAN as they fought every step of the process.

One other matter comes to mind as Mr. Bordenave's comments over the past few weeks are read. Too late, the Trojans learned to their dismay that accepting the gift of a wooden horse precipitated the destruction of their city. A couple hundred dollars worth of highway striping doesn't look like a horse. However it will likely intended to serve the same purpose in the goal of permanently blocking the bypass. The (specious) argument will likely be made that the traffic light realignment and other tinkering with the traffic flow makes the need for the bypass moot because now the trucks can zip through town with a minimum of impediment.

WALT COPLEY

Sagle