Speed Gibson

Flush with new money, the Central Corridor light rail project is charging ahead, agreeing on the route linking downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. It will cost a projected $909 million, which is about $1.5 billion in real money, not to mention the deferred but certain to be added stations, parking, and some solution to the proposed closing of the Washington Avenue bridge to traffic.

And we don't need it. We have excellent transit already. Here is how the Central Corridor compares for morning rush hour from Minneapolis to St. Paul:

• Bus 94D (freeway express), 32 min, $2.75
• Light rail, 35 min, $0.00-$2.00 (honor system)
• Bus 94B (freeway), 40 min, $2.75
• Bus 50, 43 min, $2.00
• Bus 16, 52 min, $2.00

Besides the cost, well over $10 a ride like the Hiawatha Line, we will also pay in human tragedy when 10 ton rail cars take on pedestrians and cars.