A few weeks back I mentioned that there was talk of adjusting the names of the airports in these parts. They have now voted to go ahead with it. The price tag is a mere $2.2 million.
According to the report on the Strib, some 20,000 people a year will be helped by this. That's nearly 55 people per day. And I think that number is fishy. I work with people that are former airline agents who have worked at the airports and they don't trust this number either. There may be that many that are confused but if we're talking about shelling out money to make it easier we should only count people that have missed flights because of the confusion. I'd also except people that are charged parking.
Two things bug me about this. The first is that there really is a simple confusion. We have a fancy light rail system that goes between the two airports. Perhaps we could allow free service for confused travelers. The train is going to go anyway, this won't increase costs.
The second thing is that this isn't a pressing problem. We should fix it when we aren't trying to figure out some way to balance government budgets on every level. In pol speak, we're choosing confused travelers over children and needy families. How about a little restraint?
I'm sure the signs out there are due for replacement at some point in the future. Let's try the light rail solution until then and take a fresh look when needed.
3 comments:
I agree with you that it's a lot of money to change the signage, but have learned that the money isn't coming from tax payer money, it is airport money - a fund they use for new carpet, light bulbs, etc.
As for the free ride on the light rail from one terminal to the other, it already exists. There is no ticket needed to get on the train at Lindberg and exit at Humphrey or visa versa. I just learned that Friday when I took the train to the Twins games.
Mom, where does the airport money come from? And if there is free transit between the two terminals then there is no reason whatsoever to spend millions to change the signs.
For the airport funding, you can see its source here: http://www.mspairport.com/about-msp.aspx
I believe the transportation on the light rail between the two terminals has been free since the light rail opened.
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