Each day recently, as I drive to and from work, I am struck by the incredible irony of the road-widening projects that have been under way for months in West Lawrence. Sixth Street is being widened to four lanes between Wakarusa and the Kansas Highway 10 bypass. The Kansas Turnpike is being widened to six lanes between Lawrence and Topeka. In both cases the reason for this activity would appear to be the government’s belief that road traffic will increase substantially over the coming years and that more lanes will be necessary to cope with this increase.

To be fair to the government planners who made these predictions, the data which was used is several years old, long before the true nature of the oil crisis we now face was as clear as it now is. But that crisis is now clear, or at least, ought to be. With gasoline prices approaching $3 per gallon, is it still so clear that road traffic is going to increase to the point that we need to spend millions of dollars providing more and wider roads for automobiles? Even more important, is it wise to provide any encouragement to people’s continued use of automobiles for daily transportation?

I grew up in New York City where many people don’t own cars. They cannot afford them. I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 21. I didn’t really use it and let it lapse. I finally got a new license when I moved to Illinois and realized I had to have a car. I was 30 at the time. I got around until then by using public transport.

Of course, living outside of the Lawrence bus system area, I couldn’t live without a car today. And, the fact is, that I will continue to use my car to get to Lawrence (as well as Topeka and Kansas City) so long as there is not adequate public transportation available. But every time I go to fill up at the gas station I wish that there was public transport available!

Last time I filled my car up with gas it cost me nearly $40. It’s beginning to hurt, even though I rarely drive more than 20 miles each day. But that daily drive to and from Lawrence is now costing me about $2.50. I’d much prefer to take a bus which would cost me a dollar or so. But I don’t have the choice. And, therein, for me, lies the irony of the current round of road construction.

Given the current oil crisis and the likelihood that prices are not going to significantly improve any time soon, maybe it’s time for the federal, state and local governments to think about improving public transportation, spending a little less money on roads and a little more money on alternative forms of getting around. Perhaps it is time to do a new study of predicted use of the turnpike and of major roads in light of the new cost of petroleum products and its effect on consumer and driver behavior.

Maybe one of those new lanes on the turnpike should be used as a bus lane. Maybe the parking areas at turnpike exits should be expanded and more local and inter-city bus service ought to be tried out. Maybe Lawrence should consider extending bus service to neighboring communities in Douglas County.

I suspect that the public’s attitude to automobile travel at $3 a gallon for gas, let alone $5 for a gallon of gas, may change their willingness to use and fund public transportation. I, for one, will be glad to take a bus to work, if they’d just have one stop somewhere nearby.