To the editor:

What a study in indecision. For years and years, the South Lawrence Trafficway has been studied. It’s been studied to death. It only continues to exist to provide subject matter for our city and county officials to banter about at their meetings. We have given those entrusted with our future enough time. If we continue to leave it up to them it will be commission fodder for years to come.

Let’s give the city and county commissioners a job with a deadline. In the next year they need to present Douglas County voters two complete plans for the SLT. One is a true highway, much like the completed western half. The second would be more of a street on steroids, with roundabouts and bike lanes, etc. Both plans would be complete with a start, finish and route in the middle. With 20 years worth of proposals lying around they ought to be able to find a couple that will work

Which brings me to a very important point. Do the citizens of Lawrence and Douglas County want the SLT? A simple question. Let a county referendum vote decide. Maybe we don’t want one anymore. Maybe burning fossil fuels sitting in traffic on 23rd Street is more important than the wetlands? Or vise versa. Let voters decide. Elected officials seem to be caught in the headlights. Maybe we should decide for them.

It would be a very simple ballot. SLT: Yes or No. If Yes: Plan A or B. The commissioners better hope for a “yes” vote so they can schedule some more meetings.

Paul Schultz,

Lawrence