Here's this from Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, regarding the state's plans to extend the James White Parkway:
"I appreciate that Commissioner Schroer has extended the comment period regarding the James White Parkway extension in order to hear from the public about a modified parkway design vs. the no-build option.
A parkway with lanes for biking and walking is definitely preferable to an
interstate design, and I appreciate TDOT’s willingness to make those design
alterations in response to local concerns.
However I remain firmly opposed to any extension of the James White Parkway
through our growing urban wilderness area. The Urban Wilderness has already
achieved national recognition as an outdoor recreation destination and is a key
economic development and tourism opportunity for our city, region and state.
The proposed parkway will bisect this regional asset and plow through the
existing and proposed trail network and wilderness assets. It will divert
traffic from Chapman Highway businesses.
I support major safety improvements and enhancements to Chapman Highway, Alcoa
Highway, and other existing roads and highways that serve our region. We
should work together regionally to create the future we want through smarter
development and transportation patterns, rather than destroy this wonderful
economic and environmental asset on the basis of projected future traffic needs.
I strongly encourage everyone to study the alternatives; to think of our future
as a city, county, and region; and to respectfully and unambiguously express
their opinions during the input period."
No comments:
Post a Comment