Vigo County Commissioners     Vigo County Council
 
 

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2002

Contacts:
Judy Anderson, Mayor   City of Terre Haute  812-232-9467
Chris Gaal, City Council President  City of Bloomington   812-349-3409
William Bryan, County Commissioner Vigo County   812-462-3367
Andy Ruff, City Council - At Large  City of Bloomington  812-349-3409
Ramon "Turk" Roman, County Council  Vigo County   812-462-3367 
Rod Henry, President   Greater Terre Haute 
Chamber of Commerce 812-232-2391
 

Bloomington and Terre Haute Area Officials Join Forces on I-69
 
Unprecedented Coalition asks O'Bannon to Make the Right Choice: I-70 and US 41

Elected officials from Terre Haute, Vigo County, Bloomington and Monroe County announced today that they have joined forces in a unique new coalition to promote the Common Sense I-70/US 41 route for I-69, and oppose costly and destructive new-terrain routes.

"Elected leaders from Terre Haute and Bloomington are joining together in this unprecedented coalition to send a message to the entire state of Indiana," said Mayor Judy Anderson of Terre Haute.  "The Common Sense I-70/US 41 route for I-69 makes the most sense for Indiana taxpayers and communities, and it is the most environmentally protective route.î 

"Seven of nine council members signed a letter to the Governor expressing our concerns about the new terrain routes and favoring the U.S.41/I-70 route," said Chris Gaal, president of the Bloomington City Council.  ìWe urged the Governor to use his leadership and office to select the route for I-69 that is fiscally responsible, conserves thousands of acres of farmland, forests, and wetlands, and thereby preserves those values that are close to all Hoosierís hearts.î  

Anderson and Gaal were joined by several elected officials representing the governments of Bloomington and Terre Haute and Monroe and Vigo Counties.  The two regions share a common goal in stopping an expensive and destructive new-terrain I-69 and instead routing I-69 along existing I-70 and an upgraded US 41.

Any of the new-terrain routes, if built, would seriously harm the already-struggling communities in Vigo, Sullivan and Knox Counties by drawing travelers away from US 41.  According to INDOTís own calculations, Terre Haute would lose nearly 40 percent of the travelers along US 41.  Other communities along US 41 would lose up to 50% of the travelers along US 41 if a new-terrain I-69 were built.  Terre Haute and Vigo County government bodies, including the City Council, the County Commissioners and the County Council already have adopted resolutions opposing new-terrain routes for I 69 and supporting the I-70/US 41 route.

On October 11, seven of the nine members of the Bloomington City Council sent a letter to Governor O'Bannon expressing the Council's concerns regarding INDOTís ìpreferredî new-terrain routes and encouraging the Governor to support the I-70/US 41 route.  The letter cited the harm to Bloomington's quality of life that a new-terrain route poses, as well as the harmful environmental impacts of a new-terrain route and subsequent drain on Indiana's transportation budget.  The Council also expressed concern for its sister city, Terre Haute, over the job losses a new-terrain I-69 would cause along the US 41 corridor.

The new coalition is asking for a meeting with Governor O'Bannon to discuss their concerns and is embarking on a public education campaign to inform citizens across Indiana about the fiscal, cultural and environmental impacts of a new-terrain I-69.