IMPACT on Muir of KY HW 715 Rerouting

[Yasmeen]

If you're out of state I would also e-mail, write, or call these guys:
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h074.htm
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h071.htm
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/s025.htm
Their office will fill out a green slip from all the calls that come in, they seem to take notice when they get a lot of calls (for or against) a particular issue.

Thanks for the links, Steve. Emails sent.

[Liz_Weber]

...While attending public meetings and writing the Transportation Cabinet are all well and good, may I suggest going straight to the people who pass the budget. The local legislators. If you live in the state contact your legislator: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/whoswho/county.htm If you're out of state I would also e-mail, write, or call these guys:
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h074.htm
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h071.htm
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/s025.htm
Their office will fill out a green slip from all the calls that come in, they seem to take notice when they get a lot of calls (for or against) a particular issue. Our Lt Governor and the First Lady are big on tourism so contact them too.

Steve,

Thank you so much for you insight as to how the system works and the additional suggestions for contacts.

And thanks to all of you who have been sending your emails, letters, and phone calls on Muir's behalf, as well as those who have sent so many encouraging, supportive PM, emails, and phone calls to Rick and me.

You guys are the greatest!

Liz

[Steve]

If you're out of state I would also e-mail, write, or call these guys:
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h074.htm
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h071.htm
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/s025.htm
Their office will fill out a green slip from all the calls that come in, they seem to take notice when they get a lot of calls (for or against) a particular issue. Our Lt Governor and the First Lady are big on tourism so contact them too.

I suggest this method of contact and communication for those out of state because these legislators need to know they have a tourist destination jewel in their district (if they don't already) and what an impact the road would have on this tourism dollar treasure. Since you don't have a local legislator in this state to contact try this route and maybe the Lt Governor's office. Adventure tourism is a revenue stream this end of the state is trying to tap.

Of course let the Transportation Cabinet know your concerns too, since public input is all part of their planning process.

[brewbob]

Mr. Martin's Reply:
Dear Mr. Doerr,

Thank you for your concern about this planning study. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) continually strives to avoid and minimize impacts to sensitive areas such as the Muir Valley Nature Preserve. Additionally, with the state’s current budget situation, it is highly possible that any new alignments in this area may not be feasible both from a construction cost standpoint along with the associated potential adverse environmental impacts.

With so many roadway needs throughout the state, KYTC is looking to improve its current roadway network through its “Practical Solutionsâ€

[michaelarmand]

Mr. Martin seems pretty reasonable. It would be nice to know if there are more meetings we could attend to further influence the decision.

But it really sounds like we will dodge this bullet. Building through MV is hardly a "Practical Solution" for just about anybody.

[woodchuck008]

Sounds like the message is getting through, BUT don't stop yet folks. Politicians have short memories when the pressure lets up. Keep writing and calling throughout the holiday season too. Has an impact if they start to think it will affect holiday tourism, let alone the summer seasonals. Remind them how often you come down in a year.

[p0bray01]

I got the same response tonight....sounds like a form letter.

[cwl]

Liz,

I sent email to both the kytc.planningwebpage and Charles.Martin email addresses. I also sent a copy to the three legislators mentioned in a previous post. Rick was bcc'd on the email.

My emphasis was on the economic benefit the MV brings to the regional economy (easily $1M/year).

I got back David Martin's boilerplate reply.

-cwl

[soccerfast007]

sent. thank you for rallying the community and bringing this up so we can band together and do something before it became an afterthought.

[Liz_Weber]

A big Thank You to all of the climbers who took an interest in the potential impact on Muir Valley of some of the alternatives under consideration by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Recently, I spoke again to David Martin, the KTC Project Manager. The final decision is awaiting the report from their consultants, which he is expecting this month. He received well over a hundred contacts, including letters, emails, faxes and phone calls, from people concerned about the potential impact on Muir of some of the alternatives under consideration.

He was so impressed with the number of people expressing concern and the quality of their communication that he, his manager, and another executive from KTC made a trip to tour Muir Valley to see what it was all about.

Of course, nothing can be finalized until they receive the report from their consultants, but he is leaning toward recommending Alternative H (Spot Improvements to KY HW 715).

One of the proposed spots for improvements starts at the point where our emergency road meets HW 715, so it might result in loss of some Muir Valley land in that area. That could present a challenge in redoing the emergency road, which is already very steep and narrow. But that is nothing, compared to the challenge of having the highway re-routed through the heart of Muir Valley, which would have been the result of some of the other alternatives under consideration.

Again, Rick and I want to express our appreciation to all of you who took the time to take an interest in this issue and to make your views known. You folks are the greatest!

Liz Weber