My name is Chris Gaal, and I am currently serving as President of the Bloomington Common Council.
In 1999 the Bloomington Common Council passed a declaration expressing its opposition to  any extension of I-69 through our community.  At that time a majority of council members voted in favor of that statement. Since then, INDOT has released a new draft Environmental Impact Statement, describing the impacts of various proposed routes, and more information has come to light.
In October of 2002, seven council members signed on to a letter to Governor O'Bannon and INDOT that reaffirmed our commitment to the declaration that the council passed in 1999.  This letter expresses the opinion of a clear majority of the members of the current Bloomington City Council, seven of the nine members. We are opposed to I-69 diminishing the quality of life or our community.

Our letter urges Governor O'Bannon and INDOT to select a route that is fiscally responsible, conserves thousands of acres of farmland, forests and wetlands, and thereby preserves those values that are close to all Hoosier’s hearts.  We point out that using the existing US 41/I-70 corridor is the most fiscally responsible and least environmentally destructive route among the proposed alternatives.

The Bloomington city council's letter to Governor OíBannon and INDOT sends the message that we donít believe the supposed economic benefits for Bloomington from I-69 will outweigh the obvious costs and negative impacts for our community.  Our comparative economic advantage in Bloomington is our unique quality of life and the attractiveness of our community.  We want economic development that is consistent with our existing economic strengths and the goals of our community as an attractive place to visit, live, work study and invest. An interstate through Bloomington will fuel sprawl, cause environmental damage, and undermine our current strengths.  We would prefer that the state save hundreds of millions of dollars that could be used for other transportation projects, including other needed projects in the Bloomington area.

And I am glad to be here today, to stand together with the Mayor of Terre Haute, and to send that message as part of a joint effort to support the I-70/US 41 route.  Thank you.