Should Skyways Close Earlier Than 2AM?

For the past decade, most Saint Paul skyways have opened by 6AM and closed no earlier than 2AM, making the system useful to everyone from early-morning walkers to thousands of workers to evening diners and entertainment seekers (and providers).

Now some folks are proposing that we close the system at midnight or even earlier. Their argument is that few people use the skyways late at night, and increasing security and maintenance costs are unfairly harming building owners and their tenants. 

In fact, virtually everyone else seems to like the hours as they are, and some would like the skyways open 24/7. 

We're all in agreement, however, that skyways need to be better maintained and protected from unruly kids, sleepers and others who sometimes make the system unpleasant or even unsafe. If we can't do that, perhaps shorter hours are the only answer that makes sense.

But we're still in the beginning stages of intense efforts to improve skyway security and attractiveness; shouldn't we wait and see the results of these efforts before reducing hours, and hence the usefulness, of the skyway system?

A revised skyway ordinance, including an updated code of conduct, is expected to be approved by the City Council in August, clarifying what is and is not acceptable in the system and making enforcement easier. Building owners are in the process of determining what they should do to provide better security downtown, and hopefully they will have new systems in place by next year. Also, community organizations are working tirelessly to find housing and mental health services for the homeless and positive activities for youth.

So let's give these efforts time to succeed before we retrench by reducing skyway hours. If all goes as planned, there will no longer be any advantage to shorter hours, and we will have retained maximum utility from our skyway system.