Comments for The Corridor K Gazette http://corridork.wordpress.com The primary source for information about the environmental, historical and cultural impacts of the Corridor K project. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:19:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Corridor K Action Alert! by Holly Demuth http://corridork.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/act-now-to-help-stop-corridor-k/#comment-8 Holly Demuth Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:19:17 +0000 http://corridork.wordpress.com/?p=18#comment-8 Additional details on this action alert are available at www.stopi3.org/alerts08.html More background, more about the DOT process, more details about the talking points, and more talking points--including economic and I-3 concerns. For example Viewshed detail: The DSFEIS states: “In one instance, west of Stecoah Creek, the proposed highway cut for the build alternatives would be approximately 160 feet high. A cut slope or rock face of this magnitude would be visible from miles away and be completely out of scale and character with the surrounding “natural-appearing” landscape.” The cut would be as tall as a 16-story building! This degradation of the scenic landscape that is acknowledged in the DSFEIS is unacceptable. Additional details on this action alert are available at http://www.stopi3.org/alerts08.html

More background, more about the DOT process, more details about the talking points, and more talking points–including economic and I-3 concerns.

For example
Viewshed detail: The DSFEIS states: “In one instance, west of Stecoah Creek, the proposed highway cut for the build alternatives would be approximately 160 feet high. A cut slope or rock face of this magnitude would be visible from miles away and be completely out of scale and character with the surrounding “natural-appearing” landscape.” The cut would be as tall as a 16-story building! This degradation of the scenic landscape that is acknowledged in the DSFEIS is unacceptable.

]]> Comment on Asheville Citizen Times: Here’s a road that simply shouldn’t get built by Terry Miller http://corridork.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/asheville-citizen-times-here%e2%80%99s-a-road-that-simply-shouldn%e2%80%99t-get-built/#comment-7 Terry Miller Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:07:32 +0000 http://corridork.wordpress.com/?p=14#comment-7 This article by the Asheville Citizen Times drives down to the basics of the Corridor K discussion. We do not need this road because 1. We have built the Eisenhower Interstate System to address transportation between Chattanooga and Asheville, 2. We cannot afford this road at a price tag of possibly $2 billion dollars and 3. It would begin the destruction of the assest that brings people to Western NC and Eastern TN, the Forests and the Streams. Surely in this case individual greed cannot overstep the public good. In Graham County, NC the money that is proposed for the few miles of road currently in a DEIS report might be enough to give each citizen $42,000. Maybe we could let those people educate their children rather than build a road that is weak public policy? Terry Miller This article by the Asheville Citizen Times drives down to the basics of the Corridor K discussion. We do not need this road because 1. We have built the Eisenhower Interstate System to address transportation between Chattanooga and Asheville, 2. We cannot afford this road at a price tag of possibly $2 billion dollars and 3. It would begin the destruction of the assest that brings people to Western NC and Eastern TN, the Forests and the Streams. Surely in this case individual greed cannot overstep the public good. In Graham County, NC the money that is proposed for the few miles of road currently in a DEIS report might be enough to give each citizen $42,000. Maybe we could let those people educate their children rather than build a road that is weak public policy? Terry Miller

]]> Comment on Corridor K Frequently Asked Questions by Tom Hoffman http://corridork.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/corridork-faq/#comment-2 Tom Hoffman Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:06:10 +0000 #comment-2 Am I the only person in the entire world who believes that it's crazy to keep on building new roads at a time when fuel prices are skyrocketing? People are seriously cutting back on driving. In March 2008, Americans drove 11 billion (yes, with a B) fewer miles than in March 2007. The trucking lobby is always front and center when it comes to pushing for new roads. Well, guess what? Shippers are switching from trucks to rail in droves, to the point where most railroads are swamped with new business. I saw diesel for $4.65 a gallon the other day. As a nation, we should be examining rail more closely, for both freight and passenger transportation. To move one ton of freight coast to coast by rail consumes 7 gallons of fuel. To move the same ton by truck consumes 27 gallons. (Source: Association of American Railroads www.aar.org) An intermodal (double stacked containers) train takes about 280 trucks off the highway. Since a truck is about four times the size of an automobile, an intermodal train releases highway lane space occupied by 1120 cars. (Source: AAR) So as a result, there may be less demand for such roads as Interstate 3 and Corridor K in the future. The price of oil is not likely to drop, at least not by much. There is already a good rail route between Chattanooga and Asheville, although it is roundabout, operated by Norfolk Southern. It goes from Chattanooga through Knoxville. At Morristown, Tennessee, the line veers east and roughly follows US 25 across the mountains through Hot Springs and then down into Asheville. There was never a shorter route in the history of railroads. Of course, the line between Asheville and Atlanta could also be re-activated for freight. It's now Norfolk Southern, the Great Smoky Mountains Railway, the Georgia Northeastern and CSX. The portion of the line from Andrews to Blue Ridge would have to be rebuilt, and other sections would need work, but so far as I know, the right of way is still intact. And if fuel keeps going up, there are going to be more and more demands for rail passenger service. As it is, people have cut way back on their driving, and public transportation is swamped (where it exists, that is). Nationwide, Amtrak ridership is up 11% for October-April, the first seven months of Fiscal Year 2008, compared with the same period a year earlier. (Source: National Association of Railroad Passengers, www.narprail.org ). And the steepest gas prices have occurred since April. I have to track my auto mileage for business reasons. I just looked at my log, and I've driven 40 percent less in 2008 than the same period in 2007. And I live in a place where you HAVE to drive. Tom Hoffman 540-921-1184 gopullman@aol.com Am I the only person in the entire world who believes that it’s crazy to keep on building new roads at a time when fuel prices are skyrocketing? People are seriously cutting back on driving. In March 2008, Americans drove 11 billion (yes, with a B) fewer miles than in March 2007.

The trucking lobby is always front and center when it comes to pushing for new roads. Well, guess what? Shippers are switching from trucks to rail in droves, to the point where most railroads are swamped with new business. I saw diesel for $4.65 a gallon the other day.

As a nation, we should be examining rail more closely, for both freight and passenger transportation. To move one ton of freight coast to coast by rail consumes 7 gallons of fuel. To move the same ton by truck consumes 27 gallons. (Source: Association of American Railroads http://www.aar.org)

An intermodal (double stacked containers) train takes about 280 trucks off the highway. Since a truck is about four times the size of an automobile, an intermodal train releases highway lane space occupied by 1120 cars. (Source: AAR)

So as a result, there may be less demand for such roads as Interstate 3 and Corridor K in the future. The price of oil is not likely to drop, at least not by much.

There is already a good rail route between Chattanooga and Asheville, although it is roundabout, operated by Norfolk Southern. It goes from Chattanooga through Knoxville. At Morristown, Tennessee, the line veers east and roughly follows US 25 across the mountains through Hot Springs and then down into Asheville. There was never a shorter route in the history of railroads.

Of course, the line between Asheville and Atlanta could also be re-activated for freight. It’s now Norfolk Southern, the Great Smoky Mountains Railway, the Georgia Northeastern and CSX. The portion of the line from Andrews to Blue Ridge would have to be rebuilt, and other sections would need work, but so far as I know, the right of way is still intact.

And if fuel keeps going up, there are going to be more and more demands for rail passenger service. As it is, people have cut way back on their driving, and public transportation is swamped (where it exists, that is).

Nationwide, Amtrak ridership is up 11% for October-April, the first seven months of Fiscal Year 2008, compared with the same period a year earlier. (Source: National Association of Railroad Passengers, http://www.narprail.org ). And the steepest gas prices have occurred since April.

I have to track my auto mileage for business reasons. I just looked at my log, and I’ve driven 40 percent less in 2008 than the same period in 2007. And I live in a place where you HAVE to drive.

Tom Hoffman
540-921-1184
gopullman@aol.com

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