Conservationist: We can fund our own S.C. stimulus by axing 526 extension

Image by Flickr user inkognitoh Image by 20090205-roads.jpg

Dana Beach, the head of the Coastal Conservation League -- long-time detractors of a proposed I-526 expansion -- is pointing out that the state has locked up $420 million for the future funding of the Johns and James island interstate expansion.

He says our leaders should kill the ill-fated plan and use the money to create our own wealth of jobs, by using the nearly half-billion in money to fix our roads, rail, and bridges now.

In part:

When the state funds a project like the extension of I-526, we are making a choice not to build other projects. Even though we have severely limited resources, politicians have perpetuated the myth that we can "do it all."

As a result, we have no money to do critical work on I-26, to upgrade the region's freight rail line, to begin work on a passenger rail system or to address the state's enormous maintenance backlog.

I've been unsure if we should or shouldn't build I-526, but I've got to admit his plan is pretty tempting.

Go read all about it in his guest column at The Post and Courier.

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