The state Department of Transportation didn't open its wallet to a downtown planning group seeking the green light, and funding, for a pedestrian bridge over Omaha Street but it didn't turn group away outright, either.

That's good for the downtown revitalization group, one member of which said the groundwork was now in place for the continued conversation with the state concerning the bridge.

The downtown revitalization group - Destination Rapid City - pitched the merits of an Omaha bridge crossing to the transportation department two weeks ago while the department was in Rapid City presenting its tentative five-year plan for road projects.

Of course, the department of transportation, facing a long list of needs and a short list of funding, didn't ok the project or even put it on the plan. Regardless, the city/community discussion should move forward.

The proposed bridge for pedestrian and bike crossing over Omaha is more vested in the future than present. Today, considering the foot traffic crossing Omaha, it would be difficult to justify a million dollar investment in a crossing. But as the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center expansion nears completion and the downtown revitalization group expands its own efforts, a future bridge crossing over Omaha may be just the thing to bring civic center traffic downtown and bring new growth opportunities to downtown retailers.

Or not.

Unfortunately we haven't reached the point where we know how many, or if, people would use an Omaha crossing. We'll only know that in the future, and by then, we might just be wishing we had built the bridge crossing in the past.

Without the likelihood of state funding in the near future, the costs for a crossing would fall on local wallets. That makes the discussion much more difficult.

What we don't know is if the timing for a crossing is right.

The crossing construction now is a leap of faith - hoping the bridge will drive traffic to the downtown area. If it worked, we would see some development catering to the new crowds and other existing businesses thrive. As the civic center grows we would expect bars and eating establishments to grow as well. Would people cross Omaha for that, prior to a game or event at the expanded civic center? We think so and there are plenty of successful models that would support that assumption.

At this time, no one knows what the civic center expansion will do to pedestrian traffic into the downtown area of Rapid City. The best-case scenario is people would venture across Omaha to partake in the downtown retail and eateries before and after events. We'd like to think that's what will happen and will remain optimistic it will be so.

Hesitation could be costly, however. In four months we could be talking about the pedestrian nightmare as the new arena results in pedestrians crossing a dangerous Omaha without the benefit of a safer crossing than is currently in place.

But this isn't a case of "if you build it they will come." It will take some buy-in from the downtown merchants to meet the needs of the increased traffic - if it comes.

If the merchants don't respond with incentives to cater to the new traffic, it won't work.

A safe, bridge-type pedestrian/bike crossing over Omaha is a good idea. But a good idea has to be backed by downtown merchants, the community and those attending events at the civic center to justify the expense and effort that would be involved.

We're glad the revitalization group planted the seed for the bridge at the department of transportation hearing. Every little bit helps. Now making it all come together will be the real challenge.