Trail realignment will benefit users

To the editor:

Good news in the paper regarding fixing the 42nd Street trail crossing. This for several years has been a dangerous portion of the trail putting bicyclists in harm's way. Not such good news - the estimated cost for this project is almost $750,000.

It is my humble opinion our City Council members and city engineers should visit the location and look at what can be done to simplify this crossing resolution. It is hard for me to believe that we cannot find an alternate plan to enhance the safety with less cost than estimated.

I'm not a contractor/engineer, but it seems to me we should be able to provide a straightened crossing from one side of 42nd Street to the other for a cost significantly less than the estimate. Just because there are federal funds available in the neighborhood of $700,000 doesn't mean, as conscientious citizens, we should make use of this amount of money if alternative safe crossing solutions can be implemented for less.

Bruce E. Johnson

Cedar Rapids