Action Alert

April 2009

Yesterday, someone said to me, ” Oh, I-3, isn’t that dead?”  No, my friends, it is NOT dead.

The legislation for the study remains as law.  The Federal Highway Administration has said it intends to begin the study “shortly.”  They do not define “shortly,” and so far over three years have passed.  It will be at least three more months until a contract to begin the study would be approved and begun.

We still have time to make one more effort to rescind the study.

Ask that the study be rescinded.  Below is a letter WaysSouth has sent to the Office of Management and Budget.  Use these ideas and write your own letter.   Let us know if you submit a letter.

E-mail to www.whitehouse.gov/contact/, subject line “Attn: Dr. Orszag”

Now is not the time for the government to waste any more of our money.

Dear Dr. Orszag:

As you search for ways to cut the deficit please look carefully at the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and its $24 billion in earmarks. Many of these earmarks have not been spent.  For example, the earmark to study the corridor from Savannah, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee by way of Augusta, Georgia (Section 1927) has not yet been done, is unneeded, and is unwanted.  A new major highway in this corridor would be environmentally and economically disastrous.  Should an interstate be recommended through this corridor, it would cost billions more. This money should be rescinded along with many other earmarks in SAFETEA-LU.

Lucy E. Bartlett

Chair, WaysSouth Board of Directors