Submitted by Ken Wats
The first draft of the “community” proposal for the design of US 20 Ashton to SH 87 has been completed by the proposal committee (17 members of the community). In an effort to inform people about the contents of the proposal, Ken’s Korner is publishing sections of the proposal. It is hoped that you will provide feedback and offer your ideas to the committee so that the proposal can be improved. This week the section on 4 lane freeway issues is being published for your use. This section was chosen because it was sent to the Idaho Transportation Department as part of comments to the ITD December 2022 “public meeting”. 6.0 FOUR LANE FREEWAY ISSUES As stated previously, people at the first ITD public meeting, told ITD not to even propose a four lane freeway. This is a non-starter. The citizens of Island Park oppose a four lane, high speed, limited access, freeway for many reasons. They recognize the many shortcomings of a freeway in an environmentally sensitive, scenic, recreational area. The reasons for opposing a freeway follow: 1. The Island Park Caldera is and extremely sensitive area environmentally because of its high elevation and northern latitude. Repair to environmental damage takes years. 2. ITD mapped out the wetlands adjacent to US 20. There were hundreds of flags along the highway. These wetlands will be damaged by construction of the 4 lanes and lead to ground water contamination. There could be threatened species in these many wetlands. 3. The four land freeway will require at least 5 (maybe more) new bridges across pristine, blue ribbon trout streams. Construction of these bridges will certainly lead to the generation of sediment in the streams. This could lead to generational damage to the fishery. The construction could lead to the release of invasive species. 4. Fishing is an economic driver for the area 12 months out of the year. The area is home to the threatened Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. People come from around the world to fish for this magnificent fish. 5. The Island Park Caldera is a scenic recreational area. The view scape will be compromised by a 4 lane freeway. The recreational value of the area will be diminished because the area will not be viewed as natural. 6. A 4 lane limited access freeway will reduce recreational access along the entire highway segment. Rafting access at the Buffalo River crossing would be lost, for example, as would fishing access at other crossings. 7. Access to the Targhee Forest will be compromised at many locations. This will hurt hunting and fishing access. 8. Recreational crossings will be severely reduced and compromised. This includes crossings for ATVs and snowmobiles. Snowmobiling is an economic driver for Island Park businesses in the winter. 9. ITD’s four lane freeway proposals will require the development of an open pine aggregate mine which will destroy vegetation, be unsightly, and lead to ground water contamination. 10. An extremely expensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required for a 4 lane freeway construction project. 11. Extremely expensive lawsuits are anticipated if ITD proceeds with a 4 lane freeway. 12. Wildlife movement will be impacted negatively by a four lane freeway. 13. A four lane, high speed freeway will increase the incidence of wildlife vehicle collisions. 14. 4 of 5 Fremont County voters opposed wildlife overpasses, underpasses, and fencing in an advisory vote. 15. The Idaho Legislature passed a Legislative Memorial opposing wildlife overpasses, underpasses, and fencing on US 20 in Fremont County. 16. Private and business access will be reduced along the freeway. 17. The Harriman State Park deed could be compromised by a four land freeway. 18. The traffic study used by ITD is woefully inadequate and out dated. 19. The purpose and need statements are not qualified and do not address the purpose and need for the highway segment upgrade. 20. The primary purposes of this highway segment are to serve Montana freight transport and Yellowstone National Park/West Yellowstone, Montana. 21. The benefit of a four lane freeway in the Island Park Caldera is minimal to Idaho and the citizens of Idaho. 22. The accident rate on US 20 in the Island Park Caldera is below the average for a road of this type in Idaho and about one third of the national average. 23. ITD may have to purchase private land and invoke eminent domain to take land. 24. ITD will require acquisition of new forestland right of way necessitating the creation of a new Targhee Forest Management Plan. 25. New frontage roads will affect the road density allowed on the Targhee National Forest requiring a forest plan revision. 26. The City of Island Park would be physically divided by a four lane freeway. 27. The footprint of an expansive 4 lane freeway may require expanding the right of way on both sides of the existing highway and will potentially destroy the existence of The City of Island Park. 28. The “Longest Main Street In America”, a unique historical recognition, would cease to exist. 29. The historical features of the Island Park Caldera will be compromised or destroyed. 30. US 20, Ashton, Idaho to State Highway 87, has higher traffic volume about 5% of the hours in a year. 31. ITD estimates the cost of the four land freeway at $700,000,000 in 2021 dollars. 32. The community of Island Park does not support a four lane freeway. 33. The community supports building more passing lanes (Super 2 concept) on the existing road. 34. A Super 2 design concept reduces accidents by 45%. 35. The current safety pull outs along the existing highway will be removed. 36. A Super 2 design would cost about $100M in 2020 dollars. 37. Studies performed by the Idaho Transportation Department show that a Super 2 highway design meets the required level of service for at least 20+ years into the future. 38. The City of Island Park, as Idaho knows it, would be lost forever. The Island Park community expresses opposition to the construction of a four lane, high speed, limited access freeway in the Island Park Caldera and supports the construction of the Super 2 highway proposed by the community.
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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
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