Transit

The Star Tribune had it exactly right in Sunday's editorial Alarm goes off/Gas prices should spur transit: "What's more prudent for protecting this region's economy? Hoping that gas prices will soon recede so that old habits can continue? Or offering commuters a viable choice?"

Spending nothing on transit is a bet that energy prices won't go up. Minnesota has piled all its chips on gas staying cheap forever. The Legislature has even forced transit cuts in the face of record gas prices.

Maybe gas will go down. Maybe a huge new oil reservoir will be discovered. Maybe technology will save us.

Maybe not.

We should hedge our bets.