The past and recent tragedies on our city’s streets and highways are regrettable, and my sincerest condolences to the affected families. May God comfort you and your family, and keep you in his care.
The issues surrounding the many accidents and deaths on Highway 73 and Spur 214 concern me given that my wife and children narrowly escaped being victims on these same roads. The simple truth of the matter is that any loss of life is one too many.
TxDOT, the Texas Department of Transportation, is the governmental body charged with maintaining the state’s roadways, and as such has responsibility for their use, access, and safety. It is alleged that the accidents occurred due to driver error, inattention, or plain dumb luck. Regardless of the cause, TxDOT has a duty to protect the public’s safety and welfare in the use of its roads.
Several years ago, there were numerous fatal accidents on U.S. Highway 69 from cars coming out of the old Don Drive In Theatre. At 60th Street and U.S. 69, there were collisions between cars trying cross traffic to access the south bound road. And on Texas 73, a local man was killed in a head-on collision when the driver of another vehicle left the roadway and entered oncoming traffic.
In all of these instances, TxDOT took the action needed to keep their highways safe, from constructing an overpass at 60th street, to erecting concrete barriers and dividers on Highways 69 and 73. Their actions have significantly reduced the likelihood of further loss of life and property. In the case of the recent deaths of people losing control and going into the canal, there is a very simple, cost effective solution.
TxDOT should erect a “barrier fence” similar to the ones found in Beaumont on Cardinal Drive, (between Highland and Interstate 10) and along EastTex Freeway (from I-10 to Parkdale Mall). This barrier, made of wire cables and metal rods, can prevent vehicles from leaving the road and plunging in the canal. This barrier would also slow vehicles down to allow driver recovery, while reducing property damage and loss of life.
These barrier fences are in use across the state, and also in neighboring Orange and Chambers counties. It is my sincere hope that TxDOT takes immediate action to implement this solution.
The bereaved families, citizens of Port Arthur and Jefferson County deserve no less.
John Beard, Jr.
Councilman District 5
Letters to the Editor
TxDOT needs to act
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Should Obama get credit or blame?
In a long Saturday Nov. 12 feature column, the writer suggested that President Obama "could only take credit or blame for those things that are the result of his ideas." He then listed twelve items for consideration in making that assessment. An only slightly edited version of those twelve items will make them more useful for that purpose and that version follows. (1) President Obama inherited Bush's Great Recession....which had actually been created, not by Bush, but by a failed seventy year experiment in socialism. (2) He stabilized the banking system....using borrowed money. (3) He extended unemployment benefits....using borrowed money. (4) He reduced taxes....using borrowed money. (5) He signed a health-care law....funded by borrowed money. (6) A nuclear arms treaty was signed with the Soviet Union....which had been defeated by Ronald Reagan twenty years ago. (7) Job loss steadily decreased and eventually has resulted in job gains....among government workers and funded by borrowed money. (8) Obama saved the three American auto companies....using borrowed money. (9) He passed a stimulus plan....using borrowed money. (10) Several Al Qaeda leaders were killed....by our remarkable military teams trained during the Bush Administration. (11) The President is trying to solve the nation's short and long-term economic problems....using borrowed money. (12) President Obama has been willing to compromise....in order to raise taxes or borrow more money.
Based on the writer's list, does President Obama deserve credit or blame?
Ramon Hill
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