Taking politics out the of the decision-making process of the Department of Transportation is the best thing for our state and especially Shelby County.

Rep. Cam Ward of Alabaster, has introduced a bill which would create a nine-member commission to priortize road needs throughout the state of Alabama.

Currently, transportation directors are appointed by the governor and tend to change along with priorities every four years.

There is potential for the long term vision of the DOT to change as often as the gubernatorial office changes hands.

Under Ward’s proposal, House Bill 20, a transportation commission would serve staggered terms and transcend any political agendas, for which the department may have been used in the past.

This bill has already been passed by the House and has the backing of Gov. Bob Riley. It now must go before the Senate for consideration.

The Senate has a great opportunity to send Alabama down a road of better transportation management, it needs only to give a thumbs up to House Bill 20