 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Problems Solutions Editorial and Links
Dunelands Sierra Club finds these reasons why the Illiana toll road takes Northwest Indiana in the wrong direction:
1. Environmental Justice--poor and minority
communities will be left further behind as the inner cites and first
ring suburbs they live in lose more investment and population. Further
sprawl means the jobs, schools, shopping, medical and government services
get further away and harder to get to. The public transit that people
who don't have cars depend on can't really service sprawling areas,
it is not efficient. As it is, there are people riding the buses for
5 hours a day to get from west Gary to Southlake Mall at I-65 and US
Rt. 30.
2. Sprawl is expensive -- it takes our money
to build it: roads, water and sewer line, electric and gas line extensions,
new and expanded sewer plants, new and expanded schools, long drives
in traffic to get anywhere, higher cost of welfare and criminal justice
from the left behind areas (85% of Lake County's budget is welfare and
criminal justice per recent Times article), new libraries, town halls,
more roads to maintain, etc
3. Sprawl is bad for the environment -- more pavement,
rooftops, and mowed grass means more runoff and dirty water as built
environment replaces agricultural. More people having to drive everywhere
means more air pollution. Farmland, natural areas and wildlife
habitat are paved over and lost to the public.
4. Sprawl is even bad for our health -- time spent
in the car is time not spent exercising and visiting with our families
and friends and doing community volunteer work.
5. Building enough roads to cure congestion doesn't
work -- sprawl always clogs the new roads up quickly. That is
why there is a never ending cycle of road widening and extending, which
is why driving in the Chicago suburbs is gridlock.
6. The world is changing
-- The necessity of dealing with global warming and the increase in
fossil fuel costs as supplies run out is becoming more apparent. The
future will most likely be one of lower energy where compact cities and
mass transit become very important ways to save energy. Excessive
consumption of consumer goods that the proposed new intermodal
(train to truck) yards are needed for will end. Wouldn't we be better
off with smart growth, fixing the problems in the old cities, and mass
transit investment rather than 1950's transportation technology?
Transportation problems have
land use solutions!
7. Sprawl is auto dependent -- There are no other
transportation choices, no walking or biking (danger of getting hit
by cars on busy roads, or the neighborhood has too much crime), no useful
public transit (everything is too far apart). People are isolated when
they can't drive, whether from poverty or age. 20% of the region's
population will be over 65 in 2030 which may result in a lot of people
who will need public transit if they can’t drive anymore.
We can't
afford the Illiana even if it is "free" and even if it comes
with an upfront contribution payment for commuter rail.
Sandy O’Brien, Dunelands Chair
Dunelands Sierra Club position
on the Illiana tollway proposal:
The Illiana tollway, public
or private, is not in the best interest of Northwest Indiana.
Historically, it has never had strong NIRPC plan support because it
was not affordable, would generate too much air pollution, and wouldn’t
cure congestion on the Borman. We oppose building the Illiana
even up to I-65 as that would cause further sprawl and disinvestment
in northern communities. Much better would be to invest money and planning
effort on positioning Northwest Indiana for a lower energy future as
the depletion of the oil is at hand, which will change everything.
Global warming, a better economy, and social justice are other reasons
to reinvent Northwest Indiana government and transportation for a sustainable
future. Government consolidation, revenue sharing between areas,
fair share affordable housing, school system reform, smart growth, and
an urban growth boundary would make public mass transit an affordable
and efficient transportation alternative. Sprawl drags down the
economy with its higher taxes, air and water pollution, traffic congestion,
higher energy cost, loss of undeveloped wild land and farm land, social
isolation, and division between poor and rich communities. It
is time to change the way business is done in Northwest Indiana.
We oppose a business as usual study for the Illiana, and require instead a study of:
We only support SB 1 is if it mandates:
Sandy's Editorial and Links
NY Times Article by David W. Chen A Bridge Too Long
Michigan Land Use Institute Study Follow the Money
Union of Concerned Scientists Interactive Site Great Lakes Smart Growth