In his Dec. 18 Forum commentary “Keep Pittsburgh’s Rivers Open for Business,” Jim Roddey argues that Pittsburgh’s new riverfront zoning ordinance promotes recreational uses at the expense of industrial growth. Failure to maintain and increase freight transportation on the rivers will undermine justification for Congress to repair or replace aging dams, especially the Emsworth dam, that maintain water levels. This stable height of river level is critical for all kinds of riverfront activity including new recreational infrastructure. 

Although Mr. Roddey advances an important consideration, he ignores two salient points. 

First, industry located outside of the city of Pittsburgh, where the new zoning ordinance does not apply, generates most regional river freight transportation. It is unlikely that small municipalities will copy Pittsburgh’s ordinance because their river-oriented industries are too important for their tax revenues and employment. 

Second, there are instructive examples around the region where existing industries and newer recreational assets such as walking and bike trails co-exist successfully. 

The development of Pittsburgh’s riverfronts in a manner that preserves and enhances their environmental and recreational qualities has proved, and will continue to prove, to be key to the city’s economic growth. 

The rivers serve the region as a whole, and so the city’s pursuit of its new riverfront policies will not jeopardize the commercial justification for dam repair and replacement.

EDWARD K. MULLER
Harmar

First Published: January 9, 2017, 5:00 a.m.