No to road; how about light rail?
Letter to the editor
Juneau is special. Juneau is not like other towns. Juneau has many of the advantages of a city with few of a city's disadvantages. Here one can find a wide variety of cultural and arts events. And one can also find a parking place convenient to the venue.
A road to Juneau is a bad idea. It is expensive; to build it will require a great deal of public money so that private interests can get wealthy. Sounds like socialism for the rich and well-connected.
The road as planned is dangerous. Jumping glaciers is something even our most arrogant engineers are not too confident of doing safely or permanently. We can't even keep the road to Thane safe.
A road to Juneau is not needed. We already have a transportation system that works. The Alaska Marine Highway is a proven system. It is an efficient system. It is also one of the nicer features of Southeast Alaska. A road has little of the romance and community afforded by our ferry system. Too expensive? Only if you think public services are a waste of money. The ferry system is for everyone's benefit. A road only serves the few at the expense of jobs, community and a way of life.
A road to Juneau is not wanted by the majority of people in Juneau, Haines and Skagway. We who live here don't want a road. Outsiders do. Would you drive to Skagway in the winter for the dubious privilege of continuing on to ... Whitehorse?
A road into Juneau would dramatically change one of the best features of our capital: its isolation. People come to Juneau for business and pleasure, but rarely to cause trouble. This is largely because it is not easily accessible. A road will change this. Crystal methamphetamine, anyone?
The road is about short-term profits, not long-term access or security. A deal gets done and soon you no longer recognize the country you live in.
No road, but how about light rail? Europeans have trains that roll right on to ferries - why can't we? A rail link from the Capitol to the airport, and to Anchorage via the ferry system would be civilized and wise; it is an idea worthy of the foresight that made Alaska American.
Jesse Dizard
Juneau