Our View Riley needs to keep rural promises

A recent view of an Alabama highway map from 1940 tells the story. While existing and planned highways snaked their way throughout Alabama like a spiderweb, one region of this state was inexplicably devoid of the red lines indicating highway construction in Alabama.

Not much has changed in this region over the intervening 66 years. Southwest Alabama and the Black Belt still lack the transportation resources afforded other parts of the state.

Is it any wonder then that this region's economy has also lagged behind the rest of the state over the years?

Rural Alabama gets some notice in Gov. Bob Riley's plan for his next term in office.

For one, he wants to provide distance learning labs in high schools throughout the state to allow students in poor rural counties the same opportunities for advanced classes offered to students in wealthier districts.

Riley also played a role in the formation of the Black Belt Commission and wants to form a "Rural Alabama Action Commission."

Riley is also proposing tax cuts for new industries that locate in rural Alabama.

It all sounds pretty good. We need to hold Riley's feet to the fire to make sure he follows through on not just these proposals, but to see that Southwest Alabama also finally gets its share of transportation improvements through better highways and regional airports.

The hardworking people of this region deserve no less than any other part of Alabama. It could be argued that Southwest Alabama has done more with less. All the people of this region ask is for a level playing field, Governor.

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