Second bridge not a good option

The Batavia City Council is studying, again, the second bridge option for Batavia. According to city statistics, over 70 percent of Batavians want a second bridge. What is never mentioned is that over 70 percent of Batavians refused to pay for the second bridge.

The 2000 second bridge project was going to cost over $8 million and only connect Route 31, using existing minor downtown streets, over the Fox River and dead end at Route 25, between Webster and Laurel Streets. Neither Webster nor Laurel could have handled any increase in traffic volume so any traffic that would have used the second bridge could eventually add to the congestion at the intersections of Route 25 and Wilson Street.

The proposed second bridge went nowhere, which is a reason why the voters rejected the bond issue. Batavia voters defeated the second bridge bond issue in 2000 and history tends to repeat itself.

The Batavia Community Development Committee will start overseeing the proposals for a second bridge. Even with full cooperation, without any delays, and vital input from every possible entity, from council members, business leaders, citizens and designers the earliest a bond referendum to finance the second bridge would not be available until the year 2009. The CDC should not rush into any decision that would have a property tax increase on the ballots during the national elections in 2008.

Batavia Enterprises, Inc. recently purchased the former Shumway property and had the buildings removed for future development. This area can become a vital new addition in reinvigorating downtown Batavia, but they and other potential developers cannot wait for the Batavia City Council to figure out who, what, why and where a second bridge should be located. If the Batavia City Council waits for the "stars to align," developers may longer be interested in downtown Batavia.

Leadership is needed now and that leadership should clearly state that there is no feasible location or financing available for a second bridge in Batavia and the issue is closed forever.

Jack McCabe

Batavia