8-Lane Nightmare: Wake UP, Virginia
If you live in southwest Virginia--any part of the Commonwealth for that matter--please write Governor Kaine and let's stop plans to turn I-81 into an even less safe and more unpleasant experience than it already is.
Learn the options at the RailSolutions page. Click the TAKE ACTION button and craft a quick letter to the Governor during April when there is opportunity for public input. Attend a meeting if you can. Let's not let this Haliburton-dominated bigger hammer plan be foisted upon us.
Here are some of the good things that would come from the 8-lane truck expressway:
- Air pollution and noise due to the projected doubling and tripling of truck traffic would jump dramatically. Diesel emissions ironically would be trapped by our beautiful ridge and valley topography.
- Public health would deteriorate as childhood asthma and adult respiratory disease increase in proportion to increased ozone, particulate, and nitrous oxide emissions.
- The chance for catastrophic accidents would be great, especially if larger trucks with triple trailers are allowed.
- The beautiful Valley of Virginia and Mountain Empire of Southwest Virginia would forever be marred with soundwalls and a gigantic industrialized highway replete with truck service strip development.
- Historic sites would be lost or encroached upon.
- Agriculture and forestry would suffer from loss of land and ozone pollution.
- Wildlife would be increasingly stressed, it's populations fragmented, resulting in increased danger from vehicle-animal collisions.
Shame on VDOT for sucking up to Big Money. You haven't and you won't get away with it.
Come on, neighbors. Let's get on TRACK on this one, and be heard!
Comments
I'm not a huge proponent of rail. I do think it could complement I-81 but I seriously doubt it could replace it. One aspect I strongly dislike about rail is that rail's Noise pollution is MASSIVE. I'm about eight miles as the crow flies from the rail line heading south along Route 220, and in the evening when I'm outside I can hear and feel the rumble of the train cars. The low frequency carries great distances. If a rail line were in use continually then that massive level of noise pollution would put a mighty big damper on the quality of life of folks ten miles to the north and ten miles to the south of the line! Noise pollution could impact the ecosystem but to what level I have no idea.
Sean
Posted by: Sean Pecor | March 31, 2006 11:50 AM
From the research that I have personally done, if you build a road, they will come. I mean if you increase road capacity then it will be filled.
No doubt emmissions would increase from traffic, but I have to wonder what would power the train alternative? My guess is that emmissions would increase from increased train activity as well.
Also, do not try and tell me that people will put aside their vehicles and ride the train because it reduces pollution. It's been tried and has failed in every instance excepting one: NYC. NYC is the only place in the US where the density of people is such that public transportation is not subsidized by the taxpayers (i.e. nowhere else does public transportation pay for itself).
Health effects may depend on wind patterns. Aren't many claiming that acid rain in the eastern US is a result of midwest power plants?
One observation from the northeast is that separating truck from car traffic is successful in safety terms. In NJ, we have the Garden State Parkway, where no trucks are allowed. This is nice; however, it can still be a dangerous place from the sheer number of cars.
Will wildlife migration be any more constrained than it already is with 4 lane highways? I mean does Mr. Deer say to himself, "I will cross I-81 now, but hell no after the expansion!"?
Tolls - I hate them. Noone wants to pay them, but they are the perfect economic model in that it is only the users who pay for them. I guess I could stand tolls if they were assessed without constricting traffic flow (in other words, charged without slowing me down or creating an eyesore).
The loss of land and historic sites would suck. One thing is certain and you are seeing it already and that is land loss through increased migration to the South. Building more roads will only speed up the migration and eventually ruin the picturesque rural counties.
Posted by: Jim | March 31, 2006 5:46 PM
These projects are nothing but massive pork-barrel spending mainly to transfer billions of tax dollars into the pockets of construction companies and their associated politicians. There is no legitimate need. Further south, a project is under way to build I-3 thru the heart of the largest remaining mountain wilderness area in the East, from Knoxville to Savannah, running adjacent to the Great Smokies and cutting through the heart of Pisgah NF. The justifications for I-3 are laughable: 1. Faster movement of troops in time of war (I guess in case the Yankees invade again). 2. Reduce drive time (estimated maybe 30 minutes from Knoxvile to Savannah) 3. Honor the 4th Infantry.
Maybe the I-3 and I-81 opposition could band together and have greater clout to stop both projects.
I-3 info here.
Posted by: fletch | April 5, 2006 9:21 AM