Nick Rahall and the foot bridge

Is Nick Rahall running scared?

OK, "scared" is too strong a word.

Is Nick Rahall worried? Concerned? Taking no chances?

First, he announces he wants a summit of local, state and federal drug enforcers in Huntington to discuss what can be done about the city's problem with illegal drugs. And yesterday he says he will try to get $500,000 to build a pedestrian bridge connecting Pullman Square to Harris Riverfront Park.

Maybe the person who has represented southern West Virginia in the House of Representatives for nearly 30 years thinks Cabell County Sheriff Kim Wolfe poses a serious challenge in this fall's election. Or maybe we're imagining things.

In any event, there's something that would work better than a bridge, and it would be a lot cheaper. That's a light and a crosswalk on Veterans Memorial Boulevard at 10th Street. There's no safe way for people -- especially families with small children or people with limited mobility -- to cross VMB safely. Traffic goes too fast. The 10th Street entrance to the park needs pedestrian-friendly access. A good crosswalk would probably work better than a foot bridge.