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Document modified in red June 27, 2006
from original to include
new data from Tier 1 Re Evaluation
showing revised projected
traffic volume for cars and trucks, if free or tolled.
Official Comment sent to the the
Tier 2 DEIS, I-69, 3-C, Evansville to Indianapolis Study
Feb. 21, 2006
Dear U.S.EPA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. FHWA, and INDOT
officials,
I am sending this e-mail on to INDOT and request that this entire
document be recorded as a comment in the EIS for I-69, Evansville to
Indianapolis Study.
Today, I cry foul regarding the I-69 Study in Indiana and the INDOT
Document that I am forwarding below.
I have not signed on to any I-69 booster website. I have
volunteered
as a representative of the Bloomington Bicycle Club as a member of the
CAC for section 4 of the I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis study and I
have signed up for information for a few of the sections Tier 2
studies. I question the appropriateness of this official
INDOT
document.
Page one Chapter one of the Tier 1 FEIS for I-69, 3C, Evansville
to
Indianapolis said 'not feasible as a toll road'.
http://deis.i69indyevn.org/FEIS/Vol1-FEIS/PDF/Chapter01.pdf
Chapter 1 Project History and Background
1.1 Previous Studies
....
The following points summarize key themes in these studies.
- ......
- ......
- ......
- Some Previous proposals were studied as toll
roads.
These proposals were not recommended because the road would not be
financially feasible as a toll road. "Toll feasibility" requires
that
traffic levels not only pay ongoing operating and maintenance costs,
but that they also provide revenues sufficient for construction debt
service. Being "toll feasible" requires higher traffic volumes
than
those which justify construction of a non-toll facility.
I fail to understand how this can be a "study" in any scientific
meaning of the term.
On February 17th, I have been given the attached PDF traffic estimates
for the section of I-69 in Monroe County known as 3-C by Michelle C.
Hilary, Office of Environmental Services, Indiana Department of
Transportation. These are the numbers being used in the I-69,
Evansville to Indianapolis study. They are based on I-69 not as a
toll
road. They show a trend that I believe calls into question the
purpose
and need section of the Tier 1 EIS. They certainly don't support
a
revision of the toll conclusion above.
PDF of Tier 1 FEIS traffic counts.
PDF of Tier 2 working DEIS traffic estimates.
The specific section that I focus on below is the new terrain section
of I-69 in Monroe County. This is the section of the greatest
Karst
concern.
I list INDOT calculations for trucks for this section from the DEIS,
The Tier 1, FEIS and the latest available numbers being used for the
Tier 2 DEIS.
(This Table has now been
revised using Traffic Calculations provided in the Tier 1 Re
Evaluation.)
| Section I-69, 3C section 4 at section 5
Monroe
County |
trucks / day
|
total vehicles/day
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Tier 1 DEIS*
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12,305 |
-
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Tier 1 FEIS
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7,600/ 15,200
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28,000/ 56,000
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Tier 2 DEIS- in progress**
/**
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5,700/ 11,400
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25,300/ 50,600
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Tier
1 ReEval. Appendix D table 3A (Free non-tolled)
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5304/direction
10608/total
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23472/direction
46944/ total
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Tier
1 ReEval Appendix D table 3B (Tolled)
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1968/direction
3936/ total
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9600/direction
19200/ total
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* This number is a calculation based on truck hours savings see: http://www.i69tour.org/freight.html
I am having much difficulty placing any faith in the logic of this
study based on the facts.
** It would be consistent with other toll situations to assume a lower
traffic count if I-69 were made a toll road rather than a free
interstate. This has been
verified by the Tier 1 Re Evaluation, 3936 Trucks per day is 25.89% of
the 15,200 trucks per day used to calculate freight hours saved in the
"Purpose and Need" phase of this tiered study.
**It now appears that Tier1 FEIS and Tier 2 DEIS
calculations were per direction and should be doubled. This would
be more consistent with the Tier 1 DEIS calculation.
We also challenge the jobs numbers put forth in the objectionable INDOT
document below.
See:
DEIS Personal Income Growth : http://www.i69tour.org/PIG.html
Daniels Basis for 100,000 jobs: http://www.i69tour.org/100k_jobs.html
Groups refute jobs claim: http://www.i69tour.org/PRjobs.html
Prof. Grossman refutes jobs claim: http://www.i69tour.org/hogwash.html
John Smith
contact info....
-------- Original Message --------
To view this email as a web page, go
here.
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CONTACT
US
Thank you for
your
interest in the I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis Tier 2 Studies. For
Project Questions/Comments you can contact us in these ways:
Email:
For comments/questions
relating
to a specific section: GO
HERE
Project mailing list: GO HERE
For technical support: GO HERE
Mail:
Project office addresses:
GO HERE
Hotline:
For information, event
notices,
requests to be added to mailing lists and submitting comments, please
call the hotline at 1-877-463-9386.
Indiana Department of Transportation Web site:
http://www.ai.org/dot/
I-69 Tier 2 Studies Web site
http://www.i69indyevn.org/
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February
20, 2006
At any
time, you can always unsubscribe from Fast Lane by clicking the
unsubscribe link at the bottom of this e-mail or UNSUBSCRIBE.
Time
to Vote - Talk to your legislators
As part of Governor
Daniels'
Major Moves transportation legislation, the funding mechansim for I-69
will soon come to a vote. You are encouraged to express your
views to
your legislators about I-69, and the funding to allow the road to
be
built.
Who's your legislator? Not sure? Go
Here: http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/
I-69
a part of Major Moves Web site
A wealth of information
about
I-69 and the funding mechanisms being considered to build the road can
be found at INDOT's new Major Moves Web site. Here are links to some
key areas of the site:
Extending I-69 from Evansville to Indianapolis - facts
Major Moves at a Glance
Putting I-69 on
turbo
It's no secret that Indiana is short on funds to build I-69 and a host
of other necessary road projects throughout the state. That's why
Governor Mitch Daniels introduced the innovative funding mechanisms -
tolls and public-private-partnerships - in the recent Major Moves
legislation which will come to a vote in the Indiana Senate later this
week.
Without tolls, the start of I-69 construction could be delayed until
2017 at the earliest with completion no earlier than 2035. By using
tolling, construction will begin in 2008 with completion targeted for
2018 - about the same time construction would start without tolling.
Tolling would also significantly reduce the amount of money needed to
complete this vital economic development corridor for Southwest Indiana.
The other funding mechanism proposed in
Major Moves, public-private partnerships, allows a private vendor to
compress the construction timeline to complete the project. A private
vendor will want the road constructed as quickly as possible to
maximize its return on investment. A private partner will also be able
to save money through more efficient operation - while maintaining
state safety and maintenance standards.
Working to expedite the start, and
ultimately completion, of I-69 and other vital road projects is based
on the positive economic impact the highway will have on Southwest
Indiana and the state as a whole. According to the US Department of
Transportation and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, every $1 invested
in roads generates $2 in economic activity and $0.25 in cost savings to
business annually. Every $1 billion invested in roads could also create
47,000 jobs. This project will link Evansville with the rest of the
state and provide jobs in many Southwest Indiana counties that
regularly lead the state in unemployment.
For more information about I-69 and Major
Moves, visit:
http://www.in.gov/gov/majormoves/
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This
email
was sent to:...
This
email was sent by: Indiana Department of Transportation
100 N. Senate Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204 USA
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