Lack of options only adds to transportation dilemma

I have spent several years in Clark Fork watching the discussion in Sandpoint about the Sand Creek Bypass. I understand the discussions have been going on for about 60 years. Think they have reached the point of tunnel vision. I’m not talking about building a tunnel for the bypass, but rather not seeing the possibilities outside the concept in today’s transportation problems (economy).

Any local historian can explain how rich and vibrant the community was with the railroads a century ago. Ah, but alas. Most of the generations now never experience the click-clack years of passenger service of the railroads beyond Amtrak. You could hop on the Northern Pacific in Clark Fork. Go to Spokane or for that matter stop in Sandpoint knowing there will be a train taking you home later that day. The Great Northern provided the same opportunities for its areas of service. Most of their track now goes under the various names of BNSF, which has track in Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai counties on the way to Spokane County.

BNSF has leased track used for freight to municipalities to run passenger service. The concepts are never a one county process as the service covers a multiple county area.

As long as you don’t provide alternative transportation the Sand Creek dilemma will only get worse.

MISTY D. LANE

Clark Fork