Express your Corridor K concern by Tuesday, Oct. 14!

This could be another issue well worth asking Bobby Saxon about at some of these forums and debates as to why he would be better than Dr. Paul Broun, Jr.

Woven brightly,

Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.

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From: admin@stopi3.org
Subject: Express your Corridor K concern by Tuesday, Oct. 14!

HOME   |   NEWS   |   ACTION   |   DONATE   |   RESOURCES   |   CONTACT US Don't Allow Corridor K to Carve a Swath of Destruction Through our Mountains Express your concern by Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008 A costly, destructive, unnecessary four lane road is on the fast track to completion in rural, mountainous western North Carolina. Rather than this destructive and costly proposal, upgrades along the existing route should instead be thoroughly evaluated and considered. If you are concerned about the integrity of the southern Appalachians—the land and the people, and about irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars, take action. Mail comments to Gregory J. Thorpe, PhD, Environmental Management Director Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch NC Department of Transportation 1548 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1548 gthorpe@ncdot.gov Yes! I wrote a letter to NC DOT demanding that less impactful alternatives be considered. What is all the fuss about? North Carolina Department of Transportation recently released a Draft Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (DSF EIS) that proposes a specific design and route for a four-lane highway between Stecoah and Robbinsville. The DSF EIS is an important step in finalizing the Corridor K route in these sections. For more background on Corridor K, go to http://www.stopi3.org/commonsense.html and http://www.stopi3.org/corridor_k.html. Comments on this DSF EIS must be submitted by Oct. 14, 2008. Rather than propose a highway design that will serve the needs of the 21st century and safeguard the mountain values of Western North Carolina, which are home to generations of area residents and bring others for recreation and renewal, the DOT is proposing a four-lane highway that will cut across the mountains and valleys, devastating these irreplaceable resources. Help Steer North Carolina to a Responsible Transportation Future Write a letter to NCDOT Comments needed by Oct. 14, 2008 Insist that NCDOT consider alternative non-four lane routes along Corridor K that will address transportation needs while safeguarding the streams, scenic vistas, and wildlife habitat in this irreplaceable mountain landscape. Points of Concern—If any of these positions strike a chord with you, talk about them in your letter to NCDOT. For more details on each point, go to http://www.stopi3.org/corridor_k.html. Environmental Concerns The highway, as proposed, would impact numerous mature forest communities and wildlife habitat and it could affect numerous rare species. Pristine mountain vistas would be spoiled by the proposed route. Large cut and fill banks and cut rock faces would be visible from the Appalachian Trail and other areas in the Nantahala National Forest and surrounding areas. Deep cuts and fills, along with a 2,870-foot tunnel would impact the hydrology and drainage of the area. Potential acid bearing rock along the highway corridor could have long range and long lasting implications to stream health and drainage. Impacts to clear streams and water quality are unacceptable in the one proposed route in the DSF EIS. Trout streams and drinking water supplies would be damaged and mountain streams could be destroyed. Noise generated by the proposed route would impact the Appalachian Trail and other national forest lands that are important for recreation. Sights and sounds of the proposed highway and highway construction would impact the Cheoah Bald Roadless Area. The highway would degrade the semi-primitive non-motorized setting and natural appearing environment of this inventoried roadless area. Economic Concerns The financial cost of this project cannot be justified in light of its meager transportation benefit. With a total projected cost to taxpayers of $378 million ($38 million per mile) the financial burden of this unnecessary four-lane road cannot be justified in light of road maintenance and bridge repair that remains unfunded. With economic development being the focus of the Appalachian Regional Commission and Corridor K, this four-lane road is not the best way to invest in what amounts to $42,000 per Graham County citizen on economic development. Impacts to local communities must be evaluated. The Department of Transportation projects that the road, when completed, will trigger a surge in the population of Graham County of 26 percent by the year 2030 if the proposed segment from Stecoah to Robbinsville is completed. In addition, it will cause an explosive 79 percent population increase in Graham County if the road is completed all the way to Andrews. Yet the EIS offers no analysis of the implications of this growth to the environment, to the infrastructure of Graham County, or to the quality of life of people and communities in Graham County. The Big Picture Construction of a four-lane Corridor K would literally pave the way for Interstate 3 to slice through the mountains from Georgia to Tennessee. Four-laning Corridor K in this region would complete some of the most technically challenging and most expensive portions of Interstate 3. The overlap between the two routes can be viewed at http://www.stopi3.org/corridor_k.html. The route for Interstate 3, a new corridor proposed to run from Savannah to Knoxville, as originally put forth by Georgia Congressman Charlie Norwood, can be seen at http://www.stopi3.org/maps/index.html. The interstate would bring even more air, water and noise pollution, forever changing local communities, landscapes and wildlife habitats, funneling additional taxpayer money on a project that does not have a justified need or purpose. It is time for responsible transportation that provides for transportation needs while safeguarding our environment and communities. It is past time for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Departments of Transportation in the region to re-evaluate the old transportation plans developed in the 1960s. New plans should be developed to address the needs, constraints, and opportunities of the 21st century. Please contact DOT today and let them know that, as currently proposed, Corridor K is not okay. Send your comments by Tuesday, Oct. 14 to: Gregory J. Thorpe, PhD, Environmental Management Director Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch NC Department of Transportation 1548 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1548 gthorpe@ncdot.gov To see the report, press, maps, and official supporting documents for yourself, go to http://www.stopi3.org/corridor_k.html. Questions? Email CorridorK@WaysSouth.org Support the work of responsible transportation in Appalachia! Share your volunteer interests. Make a donation online or posted to 1074 Arbor Drive Lakemont, 30552. To become a subscriber of the Stop I-3 mailing list, please let us know. To unsubscribe from future newsletters, please click here. To never get e-mailed again from the Stop I-3 Coalition, please click here.