Letter: Northern Arc Not Far-Fetched

resident Tracy Rogers in this letter to the editor says resurrection of the Northern Arc is a legitimate concern, and Route D-VE of the proposed U.S. 411 Connector could be a segment.

Dear Editor,

In case readers missed it, the Atlanta media recently reported on the possible resurrection of the controversial Northern Arc road project. An environmental group that helped stop the project claimed an 8.5 mile extension of Sugarloaf Parkway in Gwinnett County and the Georgia Department of Transportation’s wasteful, proposed 411 Connector route (Route D-VE) could serve as potential bookends for the Northern Arc.

While many dismiss the claim, there are a few interesting items to consider. First, David Haynes, the principal transportation planner of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), stated, “The Sugarloaf Parkway project does lie along the Northern Arc, one of dozens of tracts in Gwinnett, Forsyth and Bartow Counties [that GDOT] purchased for the Northern Arc.” He also noted that right-of-way is still available for the road project.

Granted, the cost to build the Northern Arc is unthinkable right now for GDOT, but excessive cost has not stopped them from trying to build the $214 million Route D-VE – $112 million more than GDOT’s previous route of choice. Plus, I could easily envision taxpayers funding segments of the old Northern Arc through various SPLOSTs, etc. I would not expect the applicable elected officials to stop GDOT’s plans for fear of retribution. 

Although some contend that environmental concerns would stop the project, environmental concerns have hardly been a concern for GDOT during its woefully inadequate evaluation of Route D-VE. If GDOT is perfectly fine with destroying Dobbins Mountain, a significant wildlife refuge, and the historic Dobbins Mine site and impairing habitat for the threatened Cherokee darter, what is stopping GDOT from destroying other environmental and historic resources in the affected communities? 

In summary, the Northern Arc claim is not far-fetched. If anything, taxpayers need to remain vigilant and be skeptical of GDOT claims that all studies have been done and that environmental harm has been minimized on the connector project. There is nothing wrong with insisting that GDOT be responsive to legitimate environmental and economic concerns, as they rely on our hard-earned tax dollars.  

Tracy Rogers
Cartersville, GA

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