Dear Source:
Dear Governor Mapp: I would like you to succeed where the last three administrations have failed.
I’m not talking about some huge thing, nor am I talking about fixing all the problems that have landed in your lap. I’m referring to something that was begun 14 years ago and received great verbal and some actual support from the last three Governors, but they failed to get it done.
I’m asking you to be the one who completes it. I’m talking about the bike path! Yes, that great thing we have all been waiting for. I was just over in St. Thomas and drove on the Federal money that was supposed to be our bike path. Many of the concrete roads over there were paid for with St. Croix money, that should have been used to create the path. We even have memos from prior Administrations, telling Public Works to hold up on work on the bike path so the money could be diverted.
I know you are a ‘do it’ man. I know you are interested in St. Croix getting its fair share of the Federal Transportation money. This Fed money is distributed on the signature of only you, no legislative control of it. I know you will want a legacy here on your Island. The bike path is a natural legacy. You can succeed where others have failed. Every day people ask me about the bike path. I tell them it will happen. I’ve been saying that for a long time. I still believe it will. You can do it!
Things that will help our economy here and STX are out there, no one knows better than you. This Bike Path running from Hovensa to Point Udahl, fourteen plus miles, will bring many athletes here to run marathons and bike events and ties in to the plans for a professional athletic field in Fredriksted. All the right away has been purchased, the plans all ready done, $100,000 has already been spent, both private and public money. I and others have spent over a decade working on it and let’s go!
You can imagine the thrill of riding a bike along our beautiful South Shore with stopping points under the big trees along the way. The excitement of getting to Point Udahl, the Eastern most point in the U.S. Not only that but when the Federal Government completes the connection of some of the fifty thousand miles of the States existing Bike Paths, we will have mile one of America’s Bike Paths.
Again Governor, we here on St. Croix appeal to your ‘Get it done nature.’ We are ready.
Bob White, St. Croix
