Benefits of an Alternate Route for U.S. 411 Connector
Photos
By Tracy Rogers
While it appears the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) remains hell-bent on ramming Route D-VE through Dobbins Mountain and surrounding areas, the coalition would like to detail the benefits of an alternate or modified route for the connector. And let’s keep in mind, the feds have stated the road would not lose its remaining $20 million earmark and that GDOT would only have to study the portion of the road that it alters. This means the project would not lose federal funding and would not have to start over, as some elected leaders contend.
First, modifying or selecting an alternate route would save taxpayers a significant amount of money. Media reports indicate that Route D-VE could cost taxpayers approximately $214 million – at least $100 million more than GDOT’s originally preferred route, Route G. Even if GDOT modified the existing route around the Dobbins Mountain area and neighborhoods, that alone could save taxpayers millions of dollars.
Secondly, an alternate or modified route would potentially avoid what may be years of unnecessary and costly litigation. The legal wrangling could delay the project further and possibly send GDOT back to the drawing board if the court stops the route. The worst scenario is; GDOT loses in court and the project is terminated.
This would not be the first time that GDOT’s proposed route for the 411 Connector project has lost in court. In 1993, a federal judge ruled that GDOT failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and applicable regulations. The route GDOT tried to build in the 1990’s is very similar to the current proposed route.
Thirdly, if the route was altered it could potentially free-up millions of dollars for other badly needed transportation projects. As most know, the road system throughout the region could use the extra funding to spur economic growth and ease traffic congestion. An alternate, more affordable route could also potentially require less T-SPLOST dollars, if the ballot initiative passes in 2012. If the ballot measure does pass, the state is planning to utilize $42.8 million of T-SPLOST funds for the 411 Connector. Now if the route was adjusted to reduce cost, GDOT could use fewer T-SPLOST dollars on the road and could spread those funds to other transportation projects in the region.
Further, a modified route around Dobbins Mountain eliminates a looming legal battle to determine if the 107-acre conservation easement qualifies for Section 4(f) designation. It also eliminates any concerns regarding destruction of historic Dobbins Mine and potential acidic drainage and the harm it would pose to aquatic life from the excavation at Dobbins Mountain, if the rock uncovered proves to be acid-producing. An altered route would also preserve vital wildlife habitat for many species including the threatened Cherokee darter.
In closing, the coalition contends if GDOT would spend six to 12 months to study and select a modified or alternate route, it would save taxpayers over $100 million, avoid years of litigation and delays and preserve the local environment.
Coalition for the Right Road (CORR) is an organization of Georgia citizens committed to making sure the U.S. 411 Connector is built with minimal environmental impact and at the lowest cost to taxpayers. CORR is opposed to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s current plans for the 411 Connector – Route D-VE – because of its high cost, inefficient interchange and environmental destruction. The coalition is committed to raising awareness of shorter, cheaper and less destructive routes, and is open to anyone who shares these concerns. For more information, visit www.coalitionfortherightroad.org, find us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, or sign our petition against Route D-VE - http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/411corr.
String Bean
7:09 pm on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
In the words of that great Aerosmith classic, "Same old story, same old song and dance." There is nothing new in this latest anti-road smear piece. You people continue to ignore the facts and then talk about all the money and time that could be saved if the DOT could avoid costly litigation by using route g. Well the DOT could avoid costly litigation if the Rollins family would not file any more lawsuits.
AllAtwitter
8:40 pm on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
I believe the article was extremely well written and spoke exactly to the heart of the matter. There was no ignoring any facts especially when the facts are clear that GDOT has not done their job properly and has wasted everyone's time and money not to mention the lives that have been lost on the existing route when the original 411 Connector should have been built as planned back in 1986. Let's all wake up and address the reality that GDOT needs to do things properly, fiscally responsibly and ethically - keep those special interest dollars out of decision-makers' pockets.
Jean Pell
11:33 pm on Saturday, July 16, 2011
Blasting though any mountain is just plain wrong. No Dog Gone road is worth the lost of habitat of our precious native birds/wildlife and the Cherokee Darter. (BTW...Google Cherokee Darter to learn why it is very important to save Dobbins Mountain.)
I'm guessing that those who are so seriously for blasting though Dobbins Mountain are in danger of losing their home if the other route(s) are chosen. My heart truly goes out to you. However....homes/houses can be rebuilt/moved.....mountains cannot.
String Bean
1:16 am on Sunday, July 17, 2011
So Jean, using your logic none of us could enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains because none of the highways could have ever been built thru there. Somehow I don't remember getting the memo that all of the wildlife up there died when the roads were built. And no I don't live in any of the proposed routes, but I have closely kept up with all the various plans for 411 over the past 30 years and understand why the route chosen (D-VE) is the correct one.
Jean Pell
11:04 pm on Monday, July 18, 2011
String Bean, Dobbins Mountain is akin to Kennesaw Mountain when it comes to important habitat for native wildlife and native birds. I hiked this mountain and am impressed with the Rollins' for wishing to preserve the mountain....for wildlife.
You may not live on the other proposed routes....but...I sense more than "logic" is behind why you so strongly support the D-VE Route.
Care to share your "bottom line" reason?
Chuck Shiflett
2:31 pm on Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Jean, not sure about String Beam, but if you look at the overall plan for 411 plus that for rebuilding the cloverleaf at 41 and rerouting what is now highway 20 from GA Highlands over to the existing Peeples Valley Road intersection at 411, plus the concept of the Atlanta to Memphis Highway then D-VE makes sense. Also Floyd and Bartow Counties are currently working with the DOT to stop any additional curb cuts along 411 from 41 over to Rome so as to preserve the 65 mph speed limit. This stretch of highway is expected to also serve as a leg of the M to A hwy. There are continuing upgrades and future ones planned on hwy 20 from I-75 to Canton. Route G blows up all of these other road projects and nothing would flow anymore. Instead of opposing Route D-VE, you folks should work to ensure that the DOT constructs D-VE in as environmentally friendly way as posisble. To oppose D-VE outright is just allowing yourselves to be used by Rollin's professional PR folks.
Dig Mcaffrey
10:07 am on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Word is DOT board members and a very high-up at DOT are saying the current route doesn't make sense and should have never gotten this far. About the comment above (which is all fine and good), I focused on words like - concept, expected, etc. Just sounds speculative. So, in the meantime, let's level parts of the local environment and waste $200 million of taxpayer money (that we don't have) on a road that may or may not be applicable to all these POTENTIAL road projects. Granted, the SR 20 improvements will happen - great/much needed. I can understand trying to make sense of all this for future road projects - and I am fine with that. Unfortunately, the cost, etc. doesn't make sense (or cents). And personally, I am not interested in seeing this thing wrapped up in court for 5-10 years, when all along DOT could make some minor tweaks, get approval and start construction a lot sooner - and at a significantly lower toll on the taxpayer and local environment. Road = right idea, wrong execution - and going on nearly 50 years now. To each their own, though....
Jean Pell
8:39 pm on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Chuck, With all due respect. I cannot comprehend D-VE as being the correct route. The costs and loss of wildlife habitat is a no brainier for me.
Do you have an invested interest in having D-VE approved???
Chuck Shiflett
10:34 pm on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Jean I have absolutely no connection in any way to any of the routes and don't stand to profit or lose regardless of what is or isn't built. I've just had a lifelong interest in transportation, and also served on the transportation committee at the Chamber for several years back in the 90's... but that's it. I guess where a lot of people get lost is that the Connector is more than 411... in addition to the related projects I mention above, the current plan calls for the Connector to also be Highway 20 so as to get that traffic off of 41 and the Cloverleaf area. From where the Connector will start at the current Rome exit on 41 down to existing 411 the new roadway will serve as 411, but from that same starting point at Rome exit down thru the Rollins' property to its intersection with Highway 20 at I-75 it will also be designated as Highway 20. If Route G were chosen instead, the Highway 20 reroute would not work.