Letter: Task force meeting was 'puzzling'

The Sylva Herald
Letters to the Editor: 02/28/08

Task force meeting was 'puzzling'

To the Editor:

Observing the Feb. 13 Jackson County Transportation Task Force meeting
was a puzzling experience for this taxpayer. While grateful that it was
open to the public, I left wondering what exactly the Department of
Transportation means when they assure us they are responsive to the
community.

The bulk of the meeting focused on developing data for a comprehensive
transportation plan and included the circulation of a proposed
community survey. One might have never guessed that there was a highly
controversial road lurking in the background.

Finally, at the end of the agenda, Walter Kulash, an independent
traffic consultant representing the Smart Roads Alliance, brought up
the subject of the Southern Loop – the "elephant in the room." From his
questions I learned that DOT has already started an environmental study
for the proposed four-lane highway, despite considerable public
opposition as far back as when the Southern Loop was first proposed. I
later learned that this particular project/environmental study comes
with a $2 million price tag.

When Kulash pointed out that such a study could expand its scope of
work to include a consideration of alternatives, DOT (District
Engineer) Joel Setzer answered with something that struck me as
equivalent to "trust me." Setzer suggested that the comprehensive plan
might deal with alternatives "perhaps in 2009." Why in the world should
the public or the task force wait that long for serious consideration
of alternatives? Shouldn't such a study include alternatives now?
Common sense says "yes."

One of the items on the agenda was a draft for a community survey. The
gist of the survey questions aim at whether there is a traffic problem,
where the congestion is and whether we want more efficient roads. No
questions about the public's preference for solutions – do we want a
multi-lane freeway or do we think traffic problems can be solved by
other solutions?

I hope the task force will revise the survey to include such questions.
But even if they do, it remains to be seen whether the DOT will pay
attention to the answers. If the DOT is responsive to community
concerns, that should be reflected in their actions. It isn't enough to
say "trust us."

Pat Montee
Sylva