"[We] just got back from the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Forest Glen Pedestrian Bridge. Since Councilmembers Floreen and Leventhal were there, it was an excellent chance to lobby them on the tunnel issue once all the speeches were over with.

But lo and behold, Delegate Rich Madaleno and Delegate Jane Lawton did it for us! When it came time for them to talk, they used their time to lobby for the pedestrian tunnel!

As Floreen and Leventhal, Doug Duncan, and members of the press listened, Del. Madaleno and Del. Lawton said that the new bridge should be considered as only part one of a two-part pedestrian project for our neighborhood. They highlighted the critical threat to pedestrians who try to cross Georgia (i.e., us) and the need for the county and state to commit to funding a solution.

It was great! And with the racalcitrant councilmembers and the press there, I hope it was effective.

Both before and after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Adam Pagnucco, Shawn Jarosz, Rick Lutz, and I lobbied Floreen and Leventhal directly.

Councilmember Leventhal told us that he supports the tunnel and adding it to the county's Transportation Priority List (which is a necessary step before the state will even consider funding). He told us that the response from his office that is on the Crossing Georgia web site was written by a staffer, and that he has turned his attention to the issue after hearing from so many of us here in the neighborhood. (Madaleno and Lawton's exhortations couldn't have hurt!) We thanked him for his support, and I asked him to put it in writing. When we receive his e-mail, I will forward it to the listserv.

We found that Councilmember Floreen is a tougher nut to crack. She acknowledges the serious problems at the intersection, but she will not commit to seeking the funding needed for a tunnel (about $10-12 million, according to Metro).

- Paul Gordon"