Interstate 81 Lawsuit

[HistoryGeek]

A Lawsuit that aims to sop the expansion of Interstate 81 has a lot more to it than
just road construction, new parties to the suit say.

Earlier this month, seven groups joined the federal lawsuit against the Virginia Department Of Trannsportation and Federal Highway Administration.

The new organizations represent a range of interests working to protect historic sites, farms, battlefields, natural enviorments, and scenic landscapes members say.

"The scale of the issue is a regional issue," explains John Eckman, Of the Valley Conservation Council, A Staunton -based group that joined the suit. "Our organization has never been involved in litigation prior to this.... That tells you how important this issue is."

The other new parties - Including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Scenic Virginia, APVA Preservation Virginia, Virginia Organizing Project, Rockbridge Area Conservation Council and Sierra Club - join Shenandoah County Farmer Larry Allamong, the Shenandoah Valley Network, and the Coalition for Smarter Growth. Those Three plantiffs filed the lawsuit on Dec. 17 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville.

The organizations want to prevent the Federal Highway Administration from allowing VDOT to move forward with the proposed expansion of Interstate-81 until the agencies have corrected what plantiffs call "the plan's fundamental flaws."

Since the suit was originally filed, VDOT has ended negotiations with a transportation consortium that has proposed a multi-lane additionto the Highway.

But other plans involving the construction of additional lanes are still being considered, along with more modest proposals like truck-climbing lanes and adding lanes only at key areas prone to congestion.

Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said in a statement that a multi lane expansion would bury importanthistoric and cultural resources and "lead to dramatically increased heavy traffic through the pristine landscape of the Shenandoah Valley."

Instead, he says the agencies could reopen the planning to find "less costly, less destructive alternatives to massive widening."

The plaintiffs suit says several of the VDOT proposals would allow widening of Interstate-81 to 8 to 12 lanes through out western Virginia.

VDOT officials have said some expansion is needed to decrease traffic congestion on the 325-mile stretch of interstate. The Federal Highway Administration approved the agency's plan in June.

The lawsuit says irreversible damage is sure to result: "VDOT's plan for Interstate-81 would destroy 7,400 acres of developed land; 1,062 acresof prime farmland; between 1,600 and 2,400 residences; 662 buisnesses; 1,238 acres of Civil War battlefields; 33 acres of wetlands; 361 acres of floodplains; 23 miles of streams; and 13 threatened and endangered species." - Daily News Record Harrisonburg, VA Monday, February 25 2008.

I don't understand why CWPT has not joined this lawsuit. I feel if VDOT wins other agencies might get the same idea.

History Geek
Evan Hunsberger

[GASharpshooter]

12 lanes??? I was just on that interstate a week ago after visiting Lexington, VA. That is just insane. No congestion at all, as I recall, and there are several areas that will need some serious demo to blow the mountains out of the way for 12 lanes to go through.

[mslaird]

I too have been on that highway more than a few times. I can see expanding only slightly to include truck climbing lanes but widening to 8-12 lanes is not necessary. I did not notice that the traffic was terribly congested when I was on 81, not anything like I-40.

[Robert A Mosher]

I've driven I-81 since the mid-1980s, usually once or twice a year. The last trip we took on it in December, the traffic reminded me of that seen on I-95 back in the mid-1980s as it was becoming really bad. An extra lane for the truckers might be a help but I do have trouble understanding the argument for as many lanes as being reported. Part of the problem is the population growth in parts of the valley. Stanton and the area surrounding the I-64 and I-81 junction has become very popular reportedly (and by visual evidence of the construction) with retiring boomers (and I am one, but I'm staying in Northern Virginia). Other parts of the valley don't seem as affected by this yet but even this kind of localized development is going to have an impact on traffic levels.

Robert A. Mosher

[vamick]

I live a little over a mile off 81, and travel it daily most weeks and lemme tell ya there are areas that are crrrrazy! and real killers annually,but when we say 'traffic' most of that traffic especially on Sundays is trucks! trucks trucks and more trucks constantly and when a truck wrecks, no matter whose fault it is..well the little guy pays! a BIG part of 81's answer (s) will always be increased rail freight! but I doubt it if this will ever be done, theres more pork in mulitple lanes/toll charges/ and,50 years+ of construction "improvements"! that argument of "trucks move so much that people just cant wait for" is thin, and its even thinner, like the blood of the squished motorist seeping down the guardrail when one judges by any other denomanator than the ****** mighty dollar bill! as with state governments everywhere we need intellegent answers, multiple answers even not just more destruction for more lanes full of more stupid Ahole drivers!

[GASharpshooter]

Truck lanes sure. But they don't need to ruin the entire vista to improve safety. I-77 past Mt. Airy to I-81 then on to Lexington was one of the most beautiful drives I've ever made.

[1stMaine]

Gary,

I agree with everything you say. The answer to the traffic isn't more roads, it's freight and people movers, especially trains. Folks have gotten so spoiled the past 40 years or so with the ability to just jump in a car and tear down the highway, that they forget all the damage it does.

Being able to take a bus, or a train to where you would like to go is wonderful. Buses and trains have gotten so much better, especially the buses, that it is enjoyable to ride them.

Certainly it takes planning to work out the connections, and sometimes it takes a but longer to get there and back, but so what?

There's a steep price to pay when folks want convenience, and spontaneity, it it's almost always the locals that pay that price through disruption of their lands and lives.

If folks want to live outside the cities, that's fine. Just put some large parking lots alongside the train and bus stations, and let them travel that way.

And don't get me going about the great myth of truckers keeping America fed and on the move....

respects,

[Micah Trent]

Being one who has traveled I-81 several times, I too have noticed increase in traffic flow, especially from Lexington to Staunton, but that is anywhere you go anymore. I am not in favor for the idea. However, it will be a hard battle to fight if it gets the okay from VA gov..
Seeing the land being effected, it reminds me of what it was like when I-64 went through the heart of Virginia and all of the land it effected. It lead to mixed emotions and Civil War historian and buffs in disbelief!

[Wild Rover]

Well,

This country is at anytime 72 hours away from famine. That is how much food the supermarkets stock- 72 hours worth. After that the people start eating, well, ??? Without trucks running 24/7 over our highways to deliver such famine begins, and I don't even want to think about the class war that will create.

This is why we need to grow "smart" if there is a way to do so. I live off of 81 by a few miles, and drive it every single day. Pretty soon it will need to be expanded. Yup, it will need to be. And the boost it will give to the local ecomomies will be well worth losing another couple of lanes worth of ground. And it is better to do so now, before the crisis, as it gives time for folks to do so smartly, rather than rushed and all "herky jerky"

Sorry, but we have to live in 2008, along with millions of other Americans in a captialist society. And Americans will not use mass transportation like Europe or Asia, we love our cars way too much, as we value our independance in even our travel.

I hate to see battlefields become asphalt, but if we are real smart, we can find a way that 81 is expanded to continue its support of America and Americans, while also doing so in the least intrusive manner possible, and increase battlefield awareness.

Running for cover now-

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Well,

This country is at anytime 72 hours away from famine. That is how much food the supermarkets stock- 72 hours worth. After that the people start eating, well, ??? Without trucks running 24/7 over our highways to deliver such famine begins, and I don't even want to think about the class war that will create.

This is why we need to grow "smart" if there is a way to do so. I live off of 81 by a few miles, and drive it every single day. Pretty soon it will need to be expanded. Yup, it will need to be. And the boost it will give to the local ecomomies will be well worth losing another couple of lanes worth of ground. And it is better to do so now, before the crisis, as it gives time for folks to do so smartly, rather than rushed and all "herky jerky"

Sorry, but we have to live in 2008, along with millions of other Americans in a captialist society. And Americans will not use mass transportation like Europe or Asia, we love our cars way too much, as we value our independance in even our travel.

I hate to see battlefields become asphalt, but if we are real smart, we can find a way that 81 is expanded to continue its support of America and Americans, while also doing so in the least intrusive manner possible, and increase battlefield awareness.

Running for cover now-

Chris,

Wow...just wow...your'e the last person I would have expected this to come from.

I recommend this thread be closed as it has served its purpose to inform...and now is starting to get into politics, and what "we" think the solution is...

Paul B.