Notes from audience Dec 3 forum, thanks Woody
Dec 3, 2015
Sierra Club Acadian Group Y-49 meeting
Lafayette downtown public library
Questions and Concerns from public comments at the meeting:
1.
Better to pay to clean up toxics now rather than
pay much more later in health care costs
2.
How far along is DOTD in acquiring property for
the right of way (ROW)?
3.
What happens to houses after they are moved – Is
there a process to relocate historic buildings/houses? Response – that is dependent on personal
transactions between homeowners and DOTD.
4.
What specific plans are there for cleanup of
toxics before acquisition and construction?
5.
With hazardous materials in the Evangeline
corridor is an alternate route in consideration? Response – No alternative
route is being considered
6.
How does an elevated expressway help traffic?
7.
How does an elevated expressway help the
community? Response – DOTD is responding to what the community said 20 years
ago
8.
What about traffic problems, people running out
of gas, accidents on an elevated expressway during hurricane evacuation?
Response – it would be safer than it is now
9.
If purpose is to move Oil and equipment why not
alternate routes?
10. Does
DOTD have to go through historic preservation process? Response – Yes, it is
called the Section 106 process.
11. The
cost of the project has gone up from 100s of Millions to $3B
12. What
would it take to look at a new alignment
13. Eisenhower
– Interstates were supposed to go around (not through) communities
14. What
is decided, what can be changed?
15. We
have heard that elevated expy can be an enhancement, be attractive. Where can I
go to see that? Response – Yes we can design to be attractive. An example of
what can be done is in New Orleans at the West Bank Expy. It is not a great
example, we can do better than that.
16. Everyone
should know that what they DOTD is talking about is 22 ft high, 150 ft wide,
all concrete underneath. Response – that design was a literal translation of
the Record of Decision (ROD), the final design does not have to be exactly like
that. There was a 2002 doc published from work with three coteries that was
considered in developing the design. Now there are 5 coteries.
17. How
big is the haz waste area, how much overlap with the project area? Response –
Project is next to and inside of the boundaries of hazardous waste sites. We
should demand that the Railroad fix the problem because if they don’t it will
be on the taxpayers to fix it.
18. What
would it take to convince you that this (elevated) is not what the community
wants?
19. Why
are we talking about an interstate. Shouldn’t we be talking about connecting
our community? Response – we got a grant to look at connecting the community.
20. Way
back there were two referenda against the elevated expy, political leaders went
ahead with it anyway.
21. In
2003 I went to look for letters at city hall, only four letters in support.
22. Could
we do it at grade? Response – ROD would not allow that change, elevated will
help connectivity.
23. Why
is the EIS being called final? Can we do another study? Response – a new
alignment would require a new EIS.
24. What
stage is the project at now?
25. What
is the procedure to change the EIS/ROD?
26. With
standard interstate cost at $17M per mile and elevated cost at $350M per mile
this project will not happen.
27. What
are the alternatives (to elevated)? Wouldn’t it be better to take advantage of
fed $ to mitigate the toxic waste sites?
28. If
you design for 20 yrs ahead and it takes 20 yrs to build shouldn’t we be
designing for 40 years, what transportation changes will occur in that time?
29. How
will the elevated help local traffic? Response – It will take some local
traffic
30. How
do we go about getting a change of the decision? Response – That would have to
be considered by Local government and DOTD. DOTD is now taking input, will
incorporate all comments into the process.
31. Our
community (McV) is divided by Evangeline now. An elevated expy might be better.
