Every year around this time, the popular Peanuts character, Charlie Brown, looked forward to kicking the football, only to have Lucy snatch the ball away from his eager foot at the most inopportune moment.

For some reason, Charlie Brown’s infectious but misplaced enthusiasm came to mind upon reading Mayor Marianne Matichuk’s response to yet another failed attempt to obtain provincial funding for the Maley Drive project — “We didn’t get a ‘no.’ So that’s positive, right?”

This province is broker than broke. The Finance minister undoubtedly needs to borrow money to buy the paper to print the bonds with which to borrow more money. So, no Maley Drive extension any time soon — at least not one funded by provincial largesse.

There are, however, other alternatives to reduce road wear and traffic congestion. First, expand the right turn lane going north on Regional Road 80 at the Lasalle/Notre Dame intersection. This may already be in the offing for next year.

Second, establish a load restriction on trucks travelling through the Lasalle corridor.

Such a proposal would require guts on the part of council, but as I’ve recently learned, there is no provincial involvement with this issue. It’s strictly a municipal bylaw concern.

Third, establish a free parking area for Cambrian College students who carpool. At least part of the money to compensate the college could come from what would otherwise be the city’s share of the Maley Drive project.

Finally, why not use the city’s existing road budget to repave the current stretch of Maley Drive? It’s probably been at least 50 years since this job was done (with real asphalt, no doubt).

Maley Drive is one political football that can be addressed. No more Lucys.

Peter Desotti
Greater Sudbury