Something must be done

I keep reading horror story after horror story about our country's transportation system and it makes me want to cry.

We have old planes, airlines in bankruptcy, outdated air-traffic control equipment and a security system that many say, while well-intentioned, causes more problems than it actually prevents.

According to a recent story in USA Today, Northwest Airlines alone has cancelled more than 1,000 flights since last Friday, citing weather problems, pilot absenteeism and traffic control issues.

Another piece, in the latest issue of Wired magazine, sings the praises of high-speed rail and wonders why we're practically the only industralized country that doesn't have a well-developed system.

Here in Central Pennsylvania, we have our own traffic woes. Congestion on York County's two main arteries -- Route 30 and Interstate 83 -- is being exacerbated by booming residential development.

Regional planners and lawmakers have been talking about a commuter-rail system connecting Carlisle, Hershey, Lancaster and other places since I graduated from college and returned to the area seven years ago. As far as I can tell, it's still all talk.

People want to travel. People pay lots of money to travel. The demand and the dollars are there. But where is the infrastructure and customer-service to support it?

Leave a comment and tell us what you think should be done.