This weeks release by Erie county and state officials listing hoped for transportation projects to the tune of $280 million is just the latest of announced priorities for our region.

Between the airport runway, community college, expansion and renovation of the Civic Center, bayfront development and now big ticket items like the Six Mile Creek bridges and the widening of the Peach Street interchange for I-90, our regional price tag is getting close to a half-billion dollars.

It is understood that there are multiple streams of funding that can enter into projects such as these, making the income pie larger than at first glance. But with that comes an understanding that there is a political process at play, and Erie has to spend its limited political clout for the items that will bring the biggest bang for our buck. It’s hard to imagine the region getting every project that it wants, so we need to prioritize and do some long-range planning so that we get our timing right. For example, we need the widening of Peach Street now, the Asbury Road project in about four years, and perhaps the Wintergreen Gorge bridges in six years (if there’s no visible defects).

Strong, coordinated leadership from our county, city and township officials, working in harmony with state bureaucrats, is necessary to make sure we receive the maximum funding for the maximum benefit to our community. On these big projects, our municipal borders must be eliminated as these assets benefit the region as a whole. With strong coordination and standing as one regional voice before the state and federal government, we can get the job done with the greatest return on our investment.