I-69 Interstate - Thoughts from an Interstate Trucker

There are over 6-1/2 Million truck drivers on America ’s highways and byways; their communication systems are far more efficient than anything the Federal Government has.

I'm calling the proposed I-69 “The MDR-69”… The “ Mexican Drug Route -69.” It is not wanted in Vigo County by the majority. Vigo County has enough of a problem with Meth and other drugs without building a major highway to help deliver more and better quality drugs.

I think that with the entire NAFTA Corridor project the issue of drug traffic and illegal immigration needs to be seriously considered. Right now, US 59 in Texas is the major route for illegal drugs through Texas, and US 59 is to become a part of I-69. Do we really want to expose Indiana to this garbage, or should the route (selected by truck drivers) be left as it, through Illinois?

I am in favor of placing the majority of Canadian – American - Mexican freight on the railroad where it belongs, and using the currently satisfactory I-69 >I-80 > I-57 > I-55 > I-30 > I-35 route through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. Save our Indiana tax money from this boondoggle and repair the roads we have now.

I asked about COUNT US! claim of "12,305 trucks per day on this Indiana route” I was sent back this web page: http://www.i69tour.org/freight.html Well explained, thank you! Depending on INDOT numbers may be dangerous to your peace of mind, and taxpayers checkbooks!

At the southern terminus of what will become the NAFTA Corridor Highway (I-69) there was 5.7 million trucks a year, about 15,160 a day, IN 1999!!! By the year 2020 this is expected to double, to over 30,000 trucks a day. By the time I-69 is built, it will be time to come back and double it again.

On I-69 as a Toll Road:

Ya know… presenting this concept to the private business world for them to invest and build the Indiana part of I-69 might reveal the stupidity of it. I cannot imagine a private business sinking billions into something that is not needed, is unwanted, and would be a near impossible “sell.”

It is easily verified that in God’s Master Plan, He intended for the church to care for the sick, homeless, the poor, in addition to being the natural and spiritual school systems. And He only demanded for a “tithe” or 10% of a person’s income to accomplish that. I realize that our governmental leaders are far more intelligent than God, but personally, I think they are getting a little greedy when it comes to our money.

I would like to see a new law prohibiting the levy of taxes on any naturally born citizen of more than a “tithe” or 10 percent of person income. That’s total taxes collected, local, county, state and federal. Ten Percent, Total!

If you want a new Interstate, let it be paid for by the users of it in the form of tolls. If you want a new airport, let those that make use of it pay for it. If you want a new place to play wobble ball, let those that utilize it pay for it.

I would really support the toll road concept for new highways since I've seen the system work. The Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes were paid for by tolls. I haven't traveled that route in a few years, so don't know if they are still toll roads. These two roads make up a substantial portion of I-44 from St. Louis to Oklahoma City. Kentucky built and paid for some nice parkways in the state with toll-roads.

On Interstate vs Rural Road Safety:

Quoting a March 2005 USA Today Story: “The death rate for motorists on rural roads was nearly three times the rate for drivers on all other roads in 2003, a study to be released today shows.”

My Question: What is the ratio of rural roads to “all other roads”? My guess would be about 7 to 1

USA Today Statement: “What is missing is adequate funding for road safety projects that will save numerous lives.”

My thought: What is missing respect for the speed limits and other vehicle limits AND adequate funding for law enforcement to bust the butts of those BMW and Mercedes type drivers who are above the law.

They are comparing apples to oranges when comparing rural roads to Interstates. They handle entirely different types of traffic (but percentage wise the same number of stupid drivers). A local sheriff investigating a recent rural road fatality tells me his report was filed by his state supervisors as the accident being a “fault of the road.” The final report made no mention of the fact the teenage was driving 80 MPH in a 30 MPH rural farm zone in a 3 Ton SUV he had never driven before. As the man says “Here’s yer sign!”

USA Today: "The nation's rural roads are exposing rural residents and visitors to an unacceptable level of risk," says William Wilkins, executive director of the highway information research organization, based in Washington .”

“Based in Washington”…… right there is the problem.

On INDOT's need for a Tax Increase vs Efficiency:

They sure don’t need an increase in the gas tax as much as they need an increase in INDOT efficiency. A road repair crew was spotted on I-70 a few days ago, 12 men standing there leaning on long-handle shovels. If INDOT had of been paying attention, they would have known the Japanese invented shovels that stand up by themselves over 10 years ago!

Forgetting "the roads we have" during the evacuations:

Did anyone happen to catch a news report last night, with aerials of people
leaving Houston, Texas? Bumper to Bumper 6 lanes wide, but they were only
using the north-bound lanes; the 6 lanes southbound were nearly deserted! I
was told they did open up the south bound lanes much later in the night,
after people started using them anyway. Since I am familiar with the highway
layout in that area, I caught another aerial shot that showed US 59 leaving
Huston, looking almost deserted.
One of the problems here is that when I-10 and I-45 were built people forgot
how to get to Dallas or San Antonio except on the Interstate. US 59 is a
good, divided, limited access highway, which is planned to be part of I-69
in the future. I just caught me odd, that there weren't very many cars using
it.

The Commerce Connector is so absurd that Hoosiers across the state, including an Indianapolis Star Editorial, are suggesting that Commuter Rail would make more sense. Van Cottom reacts:

I would tend to look more towards moving freight on rail, fewer trucks, less congested roads. Do not forget train engines will run soy-oil diesel fuel produced in Indiana very well. In addition, it is the railroads that build new tracks instead of taxpayer build new roads.

Strange… My Grandfather was an “engineer” on the Terre Haute to Clinton Inter-Urban train, I’m thinking 1920s(?). He always said the passenger train would rule one of these days.