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Transportation and Trash In Springfield, ILlinois


I have watched and read the assorted stories and blurbs about trash pick up, rail line locations and where police and fireman  will live. All of this issues are important but let us look at them in order of importance.  There is no place in Springfield that cannot be gotten to in 20 minute or less. This is on the far end of normal emergency response time so any public servant in these two job areas would not be out of range of reporting for duty in an emergency. If any of these folks lived  any place beyond the range of Petersburg (for example) then there may be a problem but maybe only due to road and weather conditions (blizzard, tornado or the like). Trash collections, I live just outside the city limits but am still considered as living in Springfield  (except when local elections occur) and in my little area there are no less than 4 and as many as 6 trash haulers and if my neighbors are like me they pay monthly , quarterly or something similar. None of us have recycling (I  am not sure why not)  and we do OK. I would suggest that the city should if they need to assess a tax or what ever it is to be called on the trash issue , just do it and be done. The much talked about rail relocation is never going have a perfect solution but apparently Normal, IL.  was able to get it done (10 years in the making). Their solution seems to incorporate connections with the use of shuttles to the airport, on site parking for train and bus travelers. WE do not need much more than this and therefore need to resolve primarily the issue of train service rerouting. No doubt there will be some relocation but the solution is to decide and really have discussions with the folks who will be affected by the relocation. Town hall meetings are not the answer since the city really has no answers at this time, just guesses and by golly’s. My view is that these things need to be resolved and the city leaders should do what is required no matter how much screaming and yelling will come from the public, the public doesn’t trust you anyway so just get it done. Just remember NO ONE wants their status quo changed.