The Island Park Preservation Coalition hosted an Island Park community meeting to discuss the US 20 – Ashton to SH 87 highway project. About 60 people attended the meeting, including county commissioners, all the Idaho District 31 legislators, and an Island Park City Council president. There were numerous engineers in attendance who provided great input. The public was very engaged in the discussion and provided great insight and opinions on the project.
The agenda included the purpose and need for the project, safety data, traffic study, screening the design alternatives with NO Island Park involvement, Idaho Transportation Department alternative (4 lanes), super 2 lane highway, 2 lane total bypass, what does the community want, and path forward. Many were surprised to learn that there was no trend toward more accidents. There was great concern over the significant shortcomings of the traffic studies. Engineers in the audience were very concerned about the data and the approach. The community showed concern about having NO involvement in the alternatives screening process. At one point there was a show of hands regarding a 4 lane freeway in the Island Park Caldera. It appeared that there was unanimous opposition to 4 lanes. Many thought that consideration of a Super 2 Lane Highway was warranted and that study of a two lane bypass was warranted. Neither of these are being considered by ITD. Many thought that future technology developments will change highway design long before the target design year if 2050. The attendees expected major changes in policy at Yellowstone National Park, including a reservation system which may profoundly reduce traffic on US 20. The discussion was very lively when it came to what road design the community wanted. It was clear they did not want a 4 lane. There was considerable discussion about the Super 2 Lane highway and what features it would have. This included suggestions for improvements to the design for the unique needs of our area. There was concern about any expansion of the current highway in the vicinity of Harriman State Park. The right of way and the deed were discussed. The consensus seemed to be that Harriman cannot be jeopardized in any way by this highway. The community agreed to form a subcommittee within IPPC to work toward a “community solution”. This subcommittee will be formed from the attendees and other interested parties. There was some limited discussion of forming a coalition of partners to address alternatives. IPPC has been moving in this direction for some time. One unanswered question was “why is ITD trying to move so fast on the planning for this project”? Many thought that there should be a pause in the planning process until more current and adequate data can be collected to inform this project. Talking/correspondence points will be developed so that the community can communicate uniformly and effectively with their elected officials and the ITD Board. It is clear that the community is not convinced that a 4 lane is needed and that it would have a VERY negative impact on the Island Park Caldera. If you care about the future of your community, please get involved. Submitted by Ken Watts
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A member of the Island Park Preservation Coalition filed a Freedom of Information Act request regarding the origins of the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study being conducted by the Idaho Transportation Department on US 20 Ashton to SH 87. This request revealed talking points that ITD staff and contractors were to use at the most recent (May 2022) “public meetings” in Ashton and Island Park. Some of the talking points follow:
Do not forget the US 20 Ashton to SH 87, Community Meeting on Friday, June 24, 2022, at 6 PM, at the Island Park EMS Building. This will be the first real chance for the community to discuss this project in an open forum where you can hear what others in the community are thinking. You will be heard and your comments will be submitted to the ITD Board and your elected representatives. Do not miss this chance to be heard in an open forum. Submitted by Ken Watts
It might come as a surprise to some that the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is surveilling the opinions of Island Park residents on a daily basis through the SIPWO website. This posted information provides ITD with clues about its mishaps and not following the law, giving it an opportunity to scramble and develop fabricated excuses and strategies.
The truth is, through PEL, ITD is actually creating a road that is an overlay based on conservation, not the other way around. A road is being used as the vehicle to initiate land use changes for conservation. For those who are skeptical just search Aashto Practioner's handbook 16, used as a guide for transportation planning where the purpose "is to overlay transportation plans and projects with conservation priorities and land uses." Especially noteworthy are pages 3, 9, and 10. One conservation priority in the alternatives is once again wildlife overpasses. ITD is drunk on federal money laundered through the Governor's office, providing government technocrats the ability to execute what they think is best upon the people. Most likely ITD is laughing at IP citizens because it doesn't believe citizens understand good practices and science, and that designing the environment for wildlife is far more important than any person. ITD cannot grasp the idea that citizens are merely protecting their homes. Private property rights are the foundation of our Republic and any activity that threatens those rights are subject to opposition. State or federal agencies do not hold the right to swoop in and roughshod over those rights, or subjugate citizens to tyranny by destroying the way they live for a road that has hidden ulterior motives. ITD, the federal highway administration (FHA), and all the other government involved entities better get their head out of the sand and revisit the foundation of our Republic, that local authority is higher than the federal or state government, especially when it comes to property rights. Laws protect local land use and whatever action the federal government wants to take cannot arbitrarily change land use plans. Putting in a monstrosity roadway that tears up the land, interferes with property rights, and affects the lives of citizens just for the sake of what it thinks is right for wildlife will never, ever be acceptable. Be careful ITD, the laws you are supposed to follow, and the true motives of what you are doing are out there for citizens to read. Submitted by Ken Watts
Please plan to attend a community meeting to discuss the Idaho Transportation Department’s US 20 Ashton to SH 87 project. The details of the meeting are in the graphic. This will be an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on the project. The Island Park Preservation Coalition will host the meeting and record your thoughts so that they can be shared with elected officials and the ITD Board. Submitted by Ken Watts
HEADLINE: Idaho Transportation Department District 6 shows total disrespect for Idaho Legislature. During the 2019 legislative session, the Idaho Legislature passed a memorial opposing wildlife overpasses, underpasses, and associated tall fencing on US Highway 20 in Fremont County. Minutes of the second alternatives screening meeting for the Ashton to SH 87 project show that ITD is once again considering overpasses in defiance of the legislative memorial. But the disrespect is not just directed at the legislature. It is directed at the people of Fremont County who voted overwhelmingly (80%) to oppose overpasses, in record numbers for a non-presidential election. The disrespect does not end there. Overpasses were opposed (via a resolution) by the Fremont County Board of County Commissioners, local cities, local Chambers of Commerce, the Fremont County Republican Central Committee, and the Idaho Republican Central Committee. Even the Governor said it would not be a good use of the taxpayer money if the people opposed them. So what should be done now? Our District 31 Legislators are very engaged with us and are committed to work for supportable solutions. The purpose of the legislature is to represent the people and their wishes, provide oversight of agencies, budget state government, and craft the policies that guide our state. Doing so in service that is the best and most responsible benefit for the people of Idaho. Do you feel like ITD District 6 is acting like the “deep state” that we hear referenced on television? We speak, our elected representatives speak...but our own state agency does not listen? Does ITD know what is best for the people of Fremont County? The Alternatives that have advanced through ITD’s screening process are alternatives ITD engineers have designed without real community involvement in the screening process. A very elitist approach? A Community Meeting will be held in Island Park on June 24th, at 6 PM, at the EMS Building on Library Way to discuss the US 20 Ashton to SH 87 project. Look for an announcement in this paper. Plan to attend. The future of Island Park depends on your involvement. You will be heard! (Apparently the article last week was not written clearly. Some people thought the article was criticizing the Fremont County Parks and Recreation Department for not attending the US 20 Ashton to SH 87 Project Alternatives screening meetings. ABSOLUTELY NOT THE INTENT. You cannot criticize Parks and Rec for not attending a meeting they were not invited to. It was confirmed that ITD did not invite them. Their input would have been invaluable to the process as the entire Island Park Caldera is a premium recreation area!) Submitted by Ken Watts
The Idaho transportation Department held their third “public meeting” in Island Park, on the US 20 Ashton to SH 87 project. The first meeting was held in October 2021 and the second in December 2021. In this meeting, posters were placed around the room somewhat like an art show. The posters were manned by ITD or their contractors. There were no presentations or question and answer sessions. An open house approach was used that did not allow the public to benefit from others comments. Most of the posters showed possible configurations for various sections of the highway and some other graphics. Some of the alternatives had been rejected by two screening committees but no context for why some were rejected and others not, was given. You could ask the person manning the poster. It is important to note that not one person from Island Park was on either screening committee. NOT ONE, and most of this highway is in the Island Park Caldera. Also missing was Fremont County and Idaho Parks and Recreation staff. This is a blue ribbon recreation area. Their input would have been critical to the screening outcome. The screeners simply are not familiar with the issues critical to the people who live in the Caldera. Many people commented that “ITD does not listen to us”. Others said that ITD just “does what they want.” The frustration was evident in many faces. This was further evident when an innovative alternative idea was presented by Jan Brown (in the first public meeting), and it was not even included in the alternatives. The idea was to bypass most of the Caldera. Many said no to a four lane, limited access, freeway in the Caldera but these were the only alternatives presented. This is called the Delphi Technique where you are only given the alternatives the agency wants you to consider, so that there is no discussion of the alternatives you really want. None of the meetings held in Island Park have been “real” public meetings. They have been more like open houses. Island Park needs to have a real public meeting to discuss the issues that are important to us and to develop community solutions. This can only be done if we work together in a constructive manner. We should debate the full range of solutions and try to arrive at one or more community solutions. To this end, the Island Park Preservation Coalition will host a working community meeting with the goal of generating a community solution we can all stand behind and promote. “Our” solution can then be taken to our city, county, state, and congressional representatives. STAY TUNED FOR THE MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT! The meeting must include all the interested parties. There will be strength in numbers. Bring your best ideas. You will not be ignored! |
Making Sense of It All
This blog will help you make sense out of all the information on the website, how it affects IP, our history, and how efforts continue to put IP into various forms of conservation status. Archives
May 2023
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