Downtown railroad creates traffic problems

To the editor:

From a historical perspective, Cedar Rapids was a significant railroad city. Many important railroad lines ran through this town and provided well paying jobs for its citizens. To show how this influenced our railroad center, the order of Railway Conductors was established and headquartered here in 1887.

That was the past. Today is today, with one track and several railroad lines 'marching” through our city, blowing their horns, stopping traffic and blocking major cross streets.

This isn't good, as nothing is being done to correct this key traffic problem.

We need our railroads. It goes without saying. However, we must acknowledge a large number of Cedar Rapids citizens work, live, eat and play downtown. Also, during the days and evenings, many individuals from out of town use the Hilton Hotel, U.S. Cellular Center and Convention Complex, and the newly renovated Paramount Theatre.

Each citizen wants our downtown to thrive and be a positive place to go day or night. For that reason, it's time to put the city fathers (and mothers) on notice. Everyone wants this traffic problem corrected now, and then to move on. And we don't need to hear our city mayor and council say, 'we will be converting our streets shortly from one-way to two-way, so we must wait until that occurs.”

David H. Burke

Cedar Rapids