The state Department of Transportation's announcement that it is studying whether to create four stretches of interstate in the Midlands where vehicles carrying more than two people can have an uncrowded lane to themselves comes at a propitious moment.

Several developments have converged ...

We can, if we simply choose to do so, find innovative ways to move more people with less energy, develop new energy sources while tapping existing sources to greater advantage, breathe cleaner air, create more livable communities, bring more wealth to our state and stand as a shining example to the world of how to do all of the above.

We just have to decide to do it — together. That "together" part may be the biggest challenge of all, given our history. But if anything is worth setting aside the differences between state and local, local and local, town and gown, public and private, House and Senate, Democrat and Republican, this is it.

We do not know where the leadership for drafting or implementing this plan will come from, but we see several potentialities: our research universities, think tanks and coalitions such as New Carolina and the Palmetto Institute, and candidates for governor in the 2010 election.

Or maybe you, who are reading these words. Whoever gets us started, the time to start is now.

The (Columbia) State