Snow paralysis revealed need for better transit system

The blizzard of 2009 brought two feet of snow and greatly impacted business activity throughout the Baltimore area, especially retailers hoping to attract shoppers in the days leading up to Christmas. Most of Baltimore relies primarily on surface transportation options such as cars and buses. Unfortunately, cars and buses alike are often rendered useless when it snows, which was the case when the snow started falling. Meanwhile, the light rail and subway systems continued to operate on schedule. While Baltimore was buried and its businesses' revenues snuffed out, other East Coast cities with better public transit systems continued to thrive despite the weather. Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston all survived the storm because they have trains to ferry their citizens around.

It's time for Baltimore to finally invest in a more comprehensive transportation system that allows us to all reach our destinations and support our businesses, regardless of the weather. The Red Line should be our first priority, followed by other efforts to bring Baltimore up to par with other cities in our region. We can't let our continued reliance on cars and buses alone drive our economic future.Andre Stone, Baltimore