Letter: Port should pay
Re: Port of Charleston setting cargo records as container ships grow larger.
Recently Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg made an appeal to get an overpass built on Meeting Street Road near Milford Street over the proposed new rail lines that will connect to the new port. These lines will serve the two major rail carriers and be filled with cargo entering and exiting the new port facility being constructed right now.
The cost for an overpass to keep the trains from interrupting regular traffic and also not get in the way of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit line is projected at approximately $40 million.
Our port has been very successful with $34 million in profits just this year, impressive for a government entity. Even more impressive is that it had similar results for the last several years with $30 million plus in profits each year.
With that kind of earning power and success it seems only appropriate that they should foot the bill for the much needed overpass, especially since the reason for the overpass is to support their very profitable activities.
Too often over the last decade the State Port Authority has stepped on the Charleston area, doing what they want with impunity.
It seems like it would be the right time for them to pick up a tab.
Jerry Lahm
O’Hear Avenue
North Charleston
