The news came as quite a shock to many in the broader region, but hit even harder here in this city. The fate of the long awaited Green Line Extension project suddenly took a turn for the worse in the eyes of all who dared to gaze into the gaping maw of an anticipated $1 billion budgetary shortfall.

Suddenly all of the promises of an economic boom in property development, of vastly improved mobility for the masses, of increased health benefits – all seemed to be slipping through our fingers in an uncontrollable melt down of financial mismanagement.

While state and federal authorities told us that all options were on the table – obliquely referring to a possible cancellation of the whole project itself – local leaders such as our own mayor scrambled to reassure the public that the situation was not as dire as the press had been presenting. That viable options to alleviate the current budgetary problems were plentiful and being immediately pursued.

As the dust settles, and details of recovery plans emerge, we are being reassured that all is not lost with the GLX. That indeed, everything we’ve hoped for is still within our grasp. That a little reworking of completion schedules, materials procurement processes, and possible rethinking of what facilities may be expendable in the short term will lead us back onto the path we wish to travel.

So much has been accomplished and so much has been invested, it is clear that failure is not an option. If it hasn’t been the smoothest of rides up to now, a few more bumps should not derail us.