Steve R. Johnson

Having the bridge on a half hour schedule maybe convenient to Park Point home owners but it has had a severe impact on safety and commerce in the Duluth Harbor. Park Pointers may stress the points that the bridge lifts impede fire, police, and first responders but never in its history has the bridge been a factor in the safety and protection of Park Point. Having said that the new bridge hours have had an impact on both safety and commerce in the Harbor.One could argue that saving bridge lifts saves money for the city. This maybe true but the other side of that is the fact that every time the bridge lifts the city and/or city businesses are making money. We wont bore you with economic impact of the Charter Industry but other recreational boaters are and have spent money in the city just to get their vessels to the base of the bridge for a lift. Tourists enjoy the bridge and the lifts.The more the bridge lifts the cost per lift diminishes. Most importantly what the schedule has done to the Charter Industry has put TIME at the top of our daily check lists ahead of SAFETY. The Coast Guard of all entities involved in this debate should realize that having to be at the base of the bridge for a lift at a “specified time” puts lives in peril. Like airplane pilots checking off for take offs and landings we have our mental lists we go thru. Be it dock lines, safety equipment, boat introductions to passengers, all go to the bottom of the list as we must make hasty moves to get our vessels to the bridge on time. Vessels waiting for scheduled lifts are also in peril in the canal where boat traffic is choked down and boats not requiring bridge lifts travel by close and at high speeds. There is no current enforcement for boat wakes and speed in the canal. We now have a job that basically forces us to watch time instead of thinking about safety. The bridge schedule for on the half hour lift is for convenience to motorists at the expense of safety and commerce.We the Charter Fishin