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ACTION ALERT FOR CORRIDOR K! |
Help Stop
the Corridor K Swath of Destruction
Through our Mountains
Take Action!
- Attend one of the upcoming “stakeholder meetings” on
Corridor K to be held the week of October 15 (see
below for details). The meetings are being conducted
by a Tennessee consulting firm with the apparent
purpose of creating support for Corridor K based
on supposed economic development benefits to the
region. Please consider attending one or more of
these meetings and speaking up for the preservation
of the mountains. RSVP by contacting Frances White
Hall at (865) 803-8994 or via e-mail at bjhall@wilbursmith.com.
We remind you that some sections of Corridor K could
overlap with possible routes of Interstate 3.
- Attend a strategy meeting from 12:30 until
2:00 PM following the Murphy stakeholder meeting
on Monday Oct. 15. This meeting is sponsored by
the Stop I-3 Coalition and the Western North Carolina
Alliance to discuss the environmental impacts and
community destruction this project would cause
and to organize to see that this destruction doesn’t
occur. The Tusquittee chapter of
Western North Carolina Alliance is providing lunch. Please
RSVP to nc_trout@verizon.net (see
details below).
- Learn about the environmental impacts of Corridor
K behind the smooth sales message of prosperity and
economic development promoters are using. Go to: http://www.stopi-3.org/research/corridor_k.html. And
stay tuned to the Stop I-3 web site for developments
on this road proposal: http://www.stopi-3.org/
- Please send this alert to your friends, colleagues,
business contacts who might be interested in the
issue/attending a meeting in Murphy, NC, Cleveland,
TN or Chattanooga, TN.
Background: A Major Road with Major Problems
put on the Fast Track:
- You may have heard the rumblings about completing
Corridor K. The Corridor K road corridor and
similar corridors were planned by The Appalachian
Regional Commission (ARC) during the 1960s
with no overall thought to the environmental
impacts and the destruction of community these
roads could cause.
- These road corridors were intended to bring
economic prosperity into the Appalachian region.
Economic development has occurred in the region,
probably thanks in part to the road corridor
system. However, this has also been accompanied
by uncontrolled sprawl, destruction of small
communities, degradation of streams and view
sheds, and destruction of wildlife habitat.
- The easy sections through moderate terrain
have been completed. The difficult sections
through our mountains remain to be built. These
sections have been stalled because of the outrageous
expense to complete this construction and because
when the environmental analysis is finally
performed, the environmental costs are clearly
unacceptable. For an overview of the serious
impacts of this road, go to: http://www.stopi-3.org/research/corridor_k.html
- The ARC has commissioned Wilbur Smith Associates,
a consulting firm in Chattanooga, to conduct
a study on the economic benefits of Corridor
K. This “study” has consisted of
a series of public meetings that have been
little more than pep rallies for those who
want to see the road completed.
- Discussion of environmental impacts and the
negative effects to small communities have
been discouraged in these meetings. Participants
are told that the examination of these environmental
issues would occur later, during environmental
analysis for the road. What is not disclosed
is that this “economic study” is
attempting to build momentum for this project
that will be increasingly difficult to oppose.
- A final series of meetings has been scheduled
including talk of a “Green Plan” for
the road. Will this be a blueprint for a green
road or the unveiling of a steamroller to try
to push forward this road despite major concerns?
Come
to a Strategy Meeting sponsored by the Stop
I-3 Coalition and the Western North Carolina
Alliance.
The strategy meeting will be held
from 12:30 until 2:00 PM on Monday Oct. 15
at the First Citizens Bank building in
Murphy. This strategy meeting will follow the
10:00-12:00 Wilbur Smith Corridor K stakeholder
meeting at Tri-County Community College in
Murphy. Join us to help process this latest
move by road proponents and formulate our next
actions. Help us build a network to oppose
this road that if built could wreck our
mountains and streams and communities.
The Tusquittee chapter of Western North Carolina
Alliance is providing lunch. Please RSVP to nc_trout@verizon.net:
(link nc_trout@verizon.net)
The First Citizens Bank is in Peachtree - right across
the street from Tri-County Community College where
the stakeholder meeting is being held. Directions:
- From Tri-County - Turn right out of the parking
lot; First Citizens will be on the left. Turn
into parking lot and follow parking lot directions.
- From Hayesville - Go West on US 64. Approximately
10 miles from Hayesville, the First Citizens Bank
will be on the right. Turn into parking lot & follow
parking lot directions.
- From Murphy - Go East on US 64. Approximately
5 miles from Murphy will be a traffic light. Approx
1/4 mile past the light is the First Citizens Bank
on the left. Turn left into the parking lot
and follow parking lot directions.
- Parking Lot Directions - When entering parking
lot, go to the right of the building and drive
all the way around. At the back of the parking
lot, on the far end is a gated driveway on the right. Turn
into that driveway and come up to the house that
is at the end of the driveway.
Attend one of the Upcoming meetings Wilbur
Smith Associates is holding for the Economic study
See
details below or go online to www.arc.gov/index.do?nodeId=2730
In order to make appropriate arrangements, Wilbur
Smith Associates requests an RSVP from those who plan
to attend. RSVP by contacting Frances White Hall at
(865) 803-8994 or via e-mail at bjhall@wilbursmith.com.
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Corridor K – Chattanooga to Asheville
Highway
Date: Monday,
October 15
Time: 10:00
A.M. – 12 Noon EST
Place: Tri-County
Community College
McSwain
Building Lecture Hall
4600
East U.S. Highway 64
Murphy,
North Carolina 28906
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Corridor K – Chattanooga to Asheville
Highway
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Important
Stakeholder Meeting
Date: Monday,
October 15
Time: 5:30
p.m. EST
Place: Cleveland
Bradley County Chamber,
225
Keith St., SW
Cleveland,
Tennessee
Refreshments
will be served
-
Corridor K – Chattanooga to Asheville
Highway
-
Economic Development Need & Transportation
Study
Date: Thursday,
October 18, 2007
Time: 11:00
a.m. EST
Place: Chattanooga/Hamilton
County
Development
Resource Center
1250
Market Street, First Floor Conference Room,
Chattanooga,
TN 37402
Lunch
will be served
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ACTION
ALERT!
Opportunity knocks: let's kill I-3 once and for all!
From the Gainesville Times,
8/11/07
Proposed
I-3 isn't forgotten: Funding for study remains in place
"The $1.32 million came from earmark legislation, also known as 'pork,'" Demuth
said. "It's a line item in the larger federal transportation bill. The
sponsor of the legislation has the ability to rescind it. But since Rep. Norwood
is no longer around, that power falls to his successor."
Broun said Monday that he is still learning
his way around Congress and is not familiar with the
legalities of how to "de-fund" a bill.
"I do know that I'm not in favor of building
I-3," Broun said. "We need to save taxpayers'
money and spend it on something that's viable, and this
project is not viable."
Broun said he would like to see the money
transferred to another Georgia project. Read
more...
In a close vote Dr. Paul Broun, who
strongly opposes I-3, has been elected and sworn-in as
the U.S. Representative from District 10 in Georgia. He replaces
the late Charlie Norwood. Dr. Broun has promised to sponsor
legislation to rescind the study of the I-3 corridor. (Visit
our 2007 news archive to learn
more about Broun's position.)
We in Georgia now need to convince the Georgia senators that
the study money should be rescinded. ALL of us need to renew
pressure on all of our legislators to vote for a rescission
and ask them to work with the Georgia delegation in rescinding
the study.
ACTIONS
1. Georgia District 10 supporters
of Stop I-3 please e-mail Dr. Broun at paul@paulbroun.com and congratulate him on his election and on his promise
to sponsor legislation to rescind I-3.
2. If you are from Georgia, e-mail or fax
both Senator Chambliss and Senator Isakson. Ask them to "Please
sponsor legislation in the Senate to rescind the study money
for I-3, The Third Infantry Division Highway, contained in
SAFETEA-LU, the transportation act of 2005, Sections 1702
(2737, 3358, 3956) and 1927. Not only is the new District
10 Representative, Dr. Paul Broun, strongly opposed to the
interstate, but this road is unwanted, unneeded, fiscally
irresponsible, and environmentally disastrous."
3. If you are NOT from Georgia, write your senators and congressmen
informing them of Representative Brounís opposition
to the study and ask for their help in rescinding the study.
As always, refer them to www.stopi3.org for further information.
To fax, call, or email your Senators and Representatives
go to www.congress.org.
PLEASE NOTE: Dr.
Broun's correct office phone numbers are 202-225-4101
(Washington) and 706-886-1008 (Toccoa). The Augusta phone
number listed for Dr. Broun on www.congress.org isnot
in service at this time.
As we flood the e-mail boxes of our senators and representative,
please remember that individual letters, even if similar,
count as separate letters; copies of a pre-written letter
count as one letter; therefore, we are asking for individual
letters. You may cut and paste from the above with minor
changes and add your own personal experience.
I have called each Georgia Senator to ask for an appointment
when they are in Georgia for the summer break in August.
If any of you know either senator personally, please contact
me at hlbartlett@windstream.net.
An introduction from a personal acquaintance always helps
when trying to speak to a legislator personally.
Thank you for your help. We have a real opportunity to stop
this highway, and I know I can count on you.
Lucy E. Bartlett
Chair, Stop I-3 Coalition Board of Directors
Posted April
10, 2007
ACTION ALERT!
Friends of Stop I-3 Coalition:
Those of us opposed to Interstate 3 have a
rare opportunity to make our voices heard--and to make those
voices really count. The U.S. Congress has asked the U.S.
Department of Transportation to return $3.47 billion in previously
approved appropriations. The federal DOT, in turn, is asking
the states to recommend their projects for defunding. It
is time to request that the I-3 study funds be at the top
of this list. Removing the study funds would
significantly delay the proposal, if not kill it completely.
But we need your help.
We need to generate as many as possible emails
and faxes suggesting this cancellation, Governor Perdue’s
office has directed our comments be forwarded to the Georgia
Department of Transportation (GDOT). Harold Linnenkohl is
the Commissioner and the GDOT addresses are set forth below.
Sending a note to the Governor will also help.
Let us repeat that we are on a very short time
line. The recommendations from GDOT are due back to Washington
by April 18, 2007. We need to get our comments into GDOT
by Friday, April 13th, 2007. Two sample notes are included
below. The most effective correspondence is one that you
personally write; however, if you are short on time you may
copy and paste one of these to your email or fax.
To contact GDOT:
By email:
harold.linnenkohl@dot.state.ga.us
By fax:
1-404-463-6336
By phone:
1-404-656- 5206
To contact the Governor’s Office:
Georgia.Governor@gov.state.ga.us
SAMPLE LETTERS TO
COMMISSIONER LINNENKOHL
Commissioner Linnenkohl:
As you consider how to meet Georgia’s
share of the $3.47 billion that the U.S. Congress has directed
the Department of Transportation to rescind, we have a suggestion
of a cut that will have no adverse impact: cancel the Interstate
3 (also called the Third Infantry Division highway) study.
If the study is cancelled, we will also save Georgia’s
20% match of $330,000. Cutting the totally unnecessary study
of a highway that will have a disastrous impact on the environment
and economy of Northeast Georgia, Western North Carolina,
and Eastern Tennessee will save money for high priority projects.
The people of the area have already studied the impacts of
this highway and the results are clear to see on www.stopi-3.org.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Commissioner Linnenkohl:
The US Congress has directed the Department
of Transportation to rescind $3.47 billion of currently appropriated
DOT funding. By letter to the states dated March 19, 2007,
the DOT has requested each to identify their share of this
cut and to return this list to the DOT within 30 days. Given
the fact that the State of Georgia already has a $7 billion
shortfall in our 5-year plan, these reductions must be done
with care. One cut that can be done with no adverse impact
is the cancellation of the Interstate 3 study. This will
save $1.3 million other cuts to higher priority programs.
In addition the state’s $330,000 share can be recalled
and also applied to saving otherwise imperiled programs.
With the soon to be completed 4 lane roadway
between Augusta and Savannah, the military justification
for the I-3 project has been satisfied. The economic justification
never existed, while the environmental and economic damage
potential to the northeast Georgia Mountains is huge. A memorial
to the 3rd Infantry Division, which could cost as much as
$7 billion, is an embarrassment to our brave soldiers.
You are no doubt aware that your northeast
Georgia counties are overwhelmingly opposed to this project.
The Congress has provided a rare opportunity to correct a
blatant pork barrel excess. We strongly encourage you to
take advantage of this windfall and in the interest of sound
fiscal policy, cancel this project.
YOUR VOICE CAN COUNT.
PLEASE USE IT!
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