Sat
Feb 9 2008
01:56:pm
Pellissippi Parkway Extension Bad for Blount County
By: yellowdog  shortURL

Pellissippi Parkway Extension will not be good for Blount County. Please check out the analysis by The Raven Society here (link...) and notice that it is Blount County (not Maryville and Alcoa) which stands to lose if it is built. In addition, there are alternatives that could actually help with traffic (which TDOT admits the PPE will NOT do) and which would not lead to higher taxes and more sprawl.

I challenge opponents of the road to say so on February 19 (or in writing by March 10). Saying so on this blog will NOT be part of the official record and will NOT HELP. The Chamber of Commerce is busy urging people to show up so if you care about this at all, BE THERE!

I challenge supporters of the road to offer evidence that anything in The Raven Society's analysis is incorrect.

Topics:

Wow - another great analysis

Submitted by L_Y on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 00:11.

Wow - another great analysis from the Raven Society. Thanks for posting this, Yellowdog. I adamantly oppose the PPE for the simple reason that it will create more sprawl, and therefore more problems than solutions. I think there is little to gain for our community from bypassing our many businesses along the Washington Street Corridor and the struggling East Broadway area and rushing people on up to the Park.

CAPPE prepares for Feb.19 TDOT meeting

Submitted by Nina Gregg on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 18:43.

Consistent with our mission to educate the public about the likely impacts of the proposed Pellissippi Parkway Extension, CAPPE (Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension, Inc.) has written a memo in preparation for the Feb. 19 meeting TDOT is hosting at Heritage High School from 5-7pm. Blountviews readers who would like to see CAPPE's material may send a request to cappe@discoveret.org

Advocates of the PPE are mobilizing. On February 19 we hope to see and hear from many of you who share CAPPE's concerns.

Talking points

Submitted by Andy on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 18:17.

I am planning to attend this meeting. Are there some general talking points that you could share here on-line, so we could easily print them off to give to others?

"I think it would be a good idea."
-Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization

Background and questions regarding PPE

Submitted by Nina Gregg on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 00:58.

Background:
At the October 2007 public meeting, TDOT representatives made a presentation that showed little improvement would come to Blount County roads from this expensive project. TDOT’s own traffic studies showed only marginal improvement to major arterial roads. They projected that within 20 years our roadways would be congested and unsafe. There are no plans to improve the roads that would receive increased traffic (411N, SR 33/East Broadway) if the PPE is built.

TDOT’s representatives at this meeting were unable to explain to the public:

(a) why this highway will be good for Blount County, and

(b) what the impact of the growth induced by the highway will be on the County infrastructure (roads, schools, law enforcement, emergency services, water supply), budget, and property tax rate.

? Go to (link...) to read CAPPE's response to the Oct. 2007 meeting. This response is relevant to the upcoming Feb. 19, 2008 meeting.

TDOT is inviting the public to comment on alternatives. Tell them to improve existing roads first.

TDOT is also asking local officials to be present to answer questions. Ask them who will benefit from and who will pay for the impacts of the PPE? What objective data do they have to support the claimed benfits?

CAPPE maintains that the Environmental Impact Statement currently in preparation by TDOT should include a thorough analysis of the impact of the PPE on the County budget. Local officials do not have this information and should request it from TDOT, so that they can make informed decisions about the County’s future.

I sent a request via email

Submitted by bizgrrl on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 07:25.

I sent a request via email for CAPPE's material and have yet to receive it.

CAPPE e-mail address now working

Submitted by Nina Gregg on Thu, 02/14/2008 - 11:10.

CAPPE's e-mail was down for several days. If you wrote requesting material, please try again: cappe@discoveret.org

Pellissippi Parkway COMPLETION

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 01:24.

I received a very disturbing e-mail the other day. Included a pdf of a Flyer.

YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT
PUBLIC MEETING
with TDOT representatives
PELLISSIPPI COMPLETION
[ ... yadda, yadda, yadda ]
Join the Blount Partnership in Supporting the Pellissippi Completion
Blount Partnership
  • Eases Gridlock on main roads
  • Improves safety and reduces traffic accidents
  • Supports smoother tourism traffic
  • Manages development within Urban Growth Boundary
  • Minimizes adverse impact on neighborhoods, business, farmlands and environment

For more information www.tdot.state.tn.us/pellissippi

Me thinks, the lines be drawn in the Sand. We need a really loud voice there, to counter these feeble talking points. It'd be mighty nice if a celebrity, like Landry or even bigger than he, would stand up and speak for our side. Didn't Robert Redford speak out against flooding Rose Island and the Snail Darter years ago? Big names draw media attention.

viva Evo Morales

Why is this Disturbing?

Submitted by johnnyo on Thu, 02/14/2008 - 12:14.

Perhaps because there are folks, even Blount Countians who live along Hwy 321, who want to see PP completed. Don't be alarmed that the "other side" of the fence those that are for the completion will stand up and be counted. Those not in favor of PP being completed can side with CAPPE, those for the completion can side with Blount Partnership.

What disturbs me

Submitted by Andy on Thu, 02/14/2008 - 13:15.

Johnnyo, your comment disturbs me because I believe, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, that my tax dollars subsidize the Blount Parnership. It is not okay for them to take my money and then lobby against me. That is dirty pool.

CAPPE is a citizens advocacy and information group, not funded with tax dollars. Perhaps they should be and then we would be comparing apples to apples.

"I think it would be a good idea."
-Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization

Who comes up with this stuff at the Chamber?

Submitted by Andy on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 02:16.

Okay, this one is just ridiculous:

Minimizes adverse impact on neighborhoods, business, farmlands and environment

"I think it would be a good idea."
-Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization

It must depend

Submitted by Blount Countian on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 18:27.

I think it must depend on whether you read it as:

"neighborhoods, business, farmlands and environment",

or whether you read it as:

"neighborhoods, BUSINESS, farmlands and environment".

Whether or not it will actually help your business would depend, of course, on whether or not you owned something in the neighborhood of Blackberry Farms.

Who comes up with it?

Submitted by mello on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 20:32.

Blount Partnership aka paid Blount County Gov't employees.

Fred Forster, President/CEO of the Chamber is a county employee.

Our tax dollars at work against ourselves.

Might as well get warm

Submitted by Dumping Ground on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 11:22.

It's cold today, maybe we could just throw our tax dollars in a big pile and set them on fire. This too would be wasteful, but at least we could draw one benefit from them this way.

BTW - WHATS UP WITH THE BIG LETTERS

Big Letters

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 11:45.

Somebody, up yonder forgot to put a " </font> " command in their message.

viva Evo Morales

No evidence - besides the witness'

Submitted by Dumping Ground on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 19:37.

A group of Blount County hunters

(link...)
It's getting colder. Maybe along with our tax dollars, we can also burn our written laws. They are only for a select few anyway. Better get your donations in.

All this mess

Submitted by johnnyo on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 09:11.

All this mess over just 4.4 miles of new four lane roadway in Blount County. Completion is right. I'll be at the meeting on the 19th along with the other supporters.

APAC

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 10:26.

Please tell me how feeding APAC's coffers, with a new Interstate, will help alleviate the major problems on Alcoa Highway? Folks that travel to Knoxville everyday (and there are a lot of us--p.s. I was born in Blount County, yet found work in Knoxville), will NOT have any use of this new stretch of pavement. If we've got to spend Tennessee Taxpayers' dollars, then let's fix what we've got. Do you think as Gasoline prices rise, that more people will drive more often? The logic is backwards, much like the direction of our entire Nation over the last 6 years.

viva Evo Morales

I find it interesting that

Submitted by yellowdog on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 11:32.

I find it interesting that johnnyo still cannot make any fact-based case for this highway and can only repeat and repeat "Completion is right." Usually the people with money behind them only have to declare and assert what they want without any need to make a coherent argument based on facts. Johnnyo is a case in point. Let's hope that is not enough to get this absurd project built.

The only thing....

Submitted by FarmerJohn on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 11:46.

that I kinda disagree with in CAPPE's evaluation is that the Alcoa By-Pass should be built to help alleviate traffic on Alcoa Highway (although I agree the PPE will not help traffic on Alcoa Highway). In my opinion Alcoa Highway needs to improved, not build a new road. The cost of building the by-pass is twice as much as improving the existing Alcoa Highway. It just seems odd CAPPE would not support building one new brand new road then advocate building another brand new road (which I will agree would help alleviate traffic).

But other than that yellowdawg, the Raven Society and CAPPE factsheet are spot on. This road does not need to be completed. People with selfish interests want this road completed, plain and simple.

CAPPE's position on Alcoa Bypass

Submitted by Nina Gregg on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 12:26.

CAPPE made the distinction between the Alcoa ByPass and the proposed PPE on two points: the Bypass would take traffic off Alcoa Highway (albeit only briefly) and the PPE will not; and something needs to be done to address the increasingly unsafe conditions on Alcoa Highway. If we are choosing between making existing roads safe or building an unnecessary new highway, we choose the former. But CAPPE does not have an official position on the Alcoa ByPass.

FarmerJohn is right that it would be less costly to improve Alcoa Highway. However, there is currently no proposal by any government body to do this.

CAPPE made the distinction

Submitted by bizgrrl on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 06:31.

CAPPE made the distinction between the Alcoa ByPass and the proposed PPE on two points: the Bypass would take traffic off Alcoa Highway (albeit only briefly) and the PPE will not; and something needs to be done to address the increasingly unsafe conditions on Alcoa Highway. If we are choosing between making existing roads safe or building an unnecessary new highway, we choose the former. But CAPPE does not have an official position on the Alcoa ByPass.

I would be more than happy to support CAPPE as long as they do not try to support the Alcoa ByPass in any way. If CAPPE tries to move the controversy to the Alcoa ByPass I will not provide support.

CAPPE's mission

Submitted by Nina Gregg on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 10:53.

The mission of Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension, Inc. (CAPPE) is to educate the public about issues regarding and the impacts of the Pellissippi Parkway Extension. We have not tried to move the controversy to the Alcoa ByPass.

The idea that there is a decision to be made between the PPE vs Alcoa Bypass seems to have started with Senator Finney's constituent survey. In that survey he describes both projects as alleviating Alcoa Highway traffic and then asks respondents to choose between the two. TDOT officials deny that the projects are equivalent and that they wil be choosing between the two.

As bizgrrl well knows, this is a false choice. The traffic issues on SR 33/East Broadway/Old Knoxville Highway and the safety of Alcoa Highway are separate issues.

Alcoa Highway needs to be made safe. Period.

Regarding the discreet traffic flow issues on SR 33/East Broadway/Old Knoxville Highway, there are tried-and-true solutions from conventional transportation engineering that do not require a new four-lane interstate highway.

If a critical mass of people are interested in organizing around the Alcoa Bypass and proposing alternatives, CAPPE would be happy to share our experience with you. But taking a position on the Alcoa ByPass is outside CAPPE's mission.

bizgrrl, we welcome your support.

four-lane interstate highway

Submitted by johnnyo on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 16:59.

It's Just 4.4 miles until it's completion. Don't make the PP Completion appear larger than it really is.

Alcoa Highway

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 17:30.

Why can't that "has to be spent" money be spent on fixing Alcoa Highway, instead? Blount Countian hit the nail on the head: "Whether or not it will actually help your business would depend, of course, on whether or not you owned something in the neighborhood of Blackberry Farms."

viva Evo Morales

Alcoa Highway

Submitted by our-town on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 13:37.

We were close to getting Alcoa highway fixed and then the car dealerships, led by West, came out against it. When that happened, both Maryville and Alcoa became opposed to the idea and told TDOT that this wasn't the solution they had in mind after all. The car dealerships are concerned that if you see a car you like on their lot, but have to get on a service road at the end or beginning of the highway, that you won't do it and so they will have lost a sale. They still belief that car buying is an impulse thing, not a need thing. I personally don't know too many people who buy a car or even look at cars without the intention of buying a car to start with.

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