We not only have a photo of the guy who blew up the dump truck. We have telling details: he detonated the explosives by shooting at them. Yes! And . . . we have video of the explosion. Of course this was going to go up on YouTube.

Years from now, they might look back at the transit decisions made in the early 21st century and dub it the “Core City Relocation Project.” Think of it: here’s the next leg of the light-rail system. We still don’t know what the University Av. Project will cost, or whether it’ll have a tunnel or connect to the old Union Depot, and the suburbs are dreaming about what their stations will look like. As with the Northstar line, this can only make it easier for people to leave and commute.

Imagine this conversation between a harried urban couple:

" I don’t like the taxes or the crime and I want a bigger house. Let's move. "

"Well, I don’t want to spend an hour daily in traffic. That’s time I could spend with the family."

"Say, here’s an affordable development connected to the light rail! You could take that daily in style and comfort. "

"Really? That’s great! We’re outta here."

I kid. Sort of. People live where they live for all sorts of reasons. This leg of the light rail makes much more sense than the University line, and it reminds you that once this leg’s completed, they’ll run tendrils out to Woodbury and Savage.

But what if we could move the same number of people for 25% of the cost? Would it be acceptable if the ride took 25% longer? I’m talking about buses. (Again.) Light rail is much nicer than buses, of course, and that’s why people want the state to spend huge sums of money on the project. It’s simply cool to see a light rail train sliding up to the new high-tech station; it’s not cool to see a bus lumber up to the curb chuffing and sighing, disgorging passengers by a busted bench and a bent sign. Light rail makes people feel modern and urban and part of a smart, well-managed community, and that’s why we’re willing to spend billions on these lines, even at the expense of other transit options. It’s all emotional.

I understand, believe me - I love trains, and I'm not fond of buses. I would also love a Porsche, but I can't afford one.There are some curious assumptions nowadays: we can’t afford not to build light rail. We can’t afford not to spend more on bridges. We can’t afford gas; we can’t afford not to raise the gas tax to pay for other transportation options. Roads, however, we can afford to delay. I should probably stop carping about it, since I'm boring myself. A big city-wide light-rail system with routes into all four corners of the burbs is like the Vikings stadium: inevitable.

Back at 12:30 with the Lance solution, updated in the post below.