To the editor:

More roads do not diminish congestion. Instead, they further complicate matters. The saying goes, build more roads and more cars will come. Not the greatest thought. More roads cost all taxpayers more money from now until forever.

Then comes the issue of our carbon footprints, which will be a challenge. Taking cars off the roads as often as possible of course would help matters of costly maintenance, congestion and pollution a great deal. However, all of us like to visit, shop and we must get to work. To reduce the need for more roads and massive traveling by automobile or SUV, the community needs to offer and/or create other means that are practical and attractive to us humans.

Considering more roads is not the means by which to reduce our cost of living. To reduce congestion or reduce the size of our carbon footprints, perhaps the time has come to focus on:

¢ walkability

¢ public transportation

¢ building hike and bike paths

¢ commuter trains

¢ commuter buses

Many communities like Lawrence are heading in this direction, according to what I’ve read. It also came to my attention while attending a City Commission-like meeting with our daughter who lives in the Kansas City area. This meeting was hosted by three mayors representing three neighboring communities. The issue of wide sidewalks and walkability arose during a rehab project discussion in which the developer was asked to install wider sidewalks to meet the communities’ new focus on walkability.

Richard Heckler,

Lawrence