Santarsiero deserves credit

The Scudder Falls Bridge project has been in the works for over six years now. Every step of the way, Steve Santarsiero has been fighting for our community, first as Lower Makefield supervisor, now as our state representative, to make sure that the project is done right and that residents are protected.

Rep. Santarsiero fought to have sound barriers included as part of the project. Thanks to those efforts, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, the entity that is overseeing the project, has agreed to build sound barriers along most of the north and southbound sides of I-95 between the river and Route 32. Rep. Santarsiero continues to fight for additional sound barriers for the few remaining "gap areas" to protect all of our neighborhoods.

Rep. Santarsiero also has fought against the proposed tolling of the new bridge after it is built. At the Delaware River Bridge Commission's January meeting in Langhorne, he stood with over 100 residents and spoke out against the proposed tolling, asking that an impact study be performed before any decision on the issue was made. Rep. Santarsiero spoke that night about how the tolling of the bridge might worsen traffic at the other crossings and in other neighborhoods.

Rep. Santarsiero then went to the bridge commission's next meeting on Feb. 22 to argue for more sound barriers and against tolling the bridge. He continues to fight on both issues despite the recent announcement by Governors Christie and Rendell that the bridge will be tolled (both governors have representatives on the commission).

In light of this history, it is ironic to say the least that Rep. Santarsiero's opponent in this year's election, Robert Ciervo, has chosen to attack him over this issue. One wonders where Ciervo was back in January or February when the commission was discussing the potential tolling of the bridge. He did not attend either meeting. In fact, up until now, less than three months before November's election, Ciervo had made no public statement on the issue, despite the fact that the bridge project affects many residents of Newtown, where he serves as a supervisor. It sounds like a case of political opportunism if there ever was one.

Rep. Santarsiero's record of hard work on the Scudder Falls Bridge project is clear. His opponent would do well to follow his example rather than spend his time looking for headlines.

Colleen Klock

Lower Makefield