SAVE IT-DON’T PAVE IT! The Newsletter of Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads— www.carri69.org—Oct 2008 PO Box 54, Stanford, IN 47463 • 812/825-9555 • 800/515-6936 • [email protected]

“THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING” --TIME TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS ON I-69 As the first 1.8 miles of I-69 is being built, support for the project is deteriorating. It continues to be supported by special interest lobbyists, political self interests and people who still believe in the myth of highways as economic saviors. It is time to call a stop to this waste of tax dollars and change directions. Support for I-69 in our changed world is burying our heads in asphalt. INDOT continues to use cost estimates for I-69 from 5 years ago, (2003 FEIS). Since then gas prices have soared, people are driving less, reducing the gas tax revenues available for road maintenance and construction. Meanwhile the cost of highway construction has skyrocketed. The realities of global warming have made the need to reduce carbon emissions a priority. Automobile and truck exhaust contribute Indiana simply cannot greatly to greenhouse gas emissions. Cutting of forests is also a major contributor of greenhouse gases. I-69 would require the cutting of over 2000 acres of Indiana’s remaining forests.

afford I-69, not environmentally, socially and certainly not

Farmland values have increased significantly due to greatly economically increased demands for agricultural crops and biofuels. Contaminated food supplies from other countries also beg us to maintain and conserve our own farmlands. I-69 would take around 5,000 acres of Indiana farmland, some of the best agricultural ground in the state.

Time to Change Direction We Need Your Support 2007 Financial Report Fraudulent Contractors Candidate Survey Indiana Planning for the Past I-69 in KY & TX Membership Form Thank You to Supporters

1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 7

One of the three main reasons given by INDOT for building I-69 is to complete a Mexico to Canada NAFTA truck corridor. NAFTA did not live up to its promise of economic Nirvana and thousands of Indiana jobs have bolted to Mexico. Now the jobs are going overseas where no highway can help them. Future transportation needs will not be a repetition of past needs. As gas prices soar many citizens are demanding public transit options for our state. (Continued on page 5)

Dear Friends and Supporters, The construction of a 1.77 mile segment of I-69 was begun in July. In lieu of a public ground breaking, politicians and highway lobbyists who are promoting I-69 held a by-invitation-only, celebration in downtown Evansville. The police presence at this event was like a third world dictatorship, not like a democracy. The vast majority of people who will pay for the highway were not allowed to attend. Yet another example of how the I-69 process is corrupted. We want to assure you that despite this distressing development, our opposition to I-69 is not diminishing and we will continue our work to protect our homes, farms, forests, communities and to foster fiscal responsibility. The continued construction of I-69, as made clear in this newsletter, faces many obstacles. In order to avoid doing honest studies and to more easily manipulate data, INDOT divided the I-69 project into segments. INDOT has stated that even the 1.77 mile segment has "independent utility", that it can be justified as a stand-alone project. This means that there is no legal requirement to complete any other segment of I69. In spite of INDOT's misinformation, the cost of construction has more than doubled in the last five years. Unless stopped, I-69 will continue to drain funding from important transportation and highway projects around the state. We have been told that no further work on I-69 is expected until after the election in November. Governor Daniels hopes to get a boost from Evansville voters for starting I-69 but he doesn’t want to risk the outrage he expects from other areas. Both Governor Daniels and Jill Long-Thompson support the new terrain I-69. Libertarian candidate Andrew Horning does not. CARR is in this fight for the long haul. Currently we are considering additional legal challenges to I-69. And we will attempt to cut off funding for this highway at the state and national levels. We need your financial help to support work. For 18 years your generosity has supported CARR’s efforts to protect our farmland, our forests and our communities. A gift of $50 from every home that receives this newsletter would help us meet our expenses. Please give as generously as you can. Any size gift makes a difference, but we need your help now. We thank each of you for your dedicated support of our efforts. We simply cannot continue this work without you and your financial support. Thank you as well for your letters and notes which encourage us more that we can ever say. With best regards, Thomas & Sandra Tokarski and the CARR Steering Committee

Sheila Klinker, (D) House district 27, " ...High-Speed and Light Rail are great alternatives. We need to be seriously investigating these methods of travel."

CARR Financial Statement Income Memberships ............................ 920.00 Donations .............................. 8,959.55 CD Income ................................. 25.00 Change for Event ........................ 60.00 Bumper Stickers-Donation .......... 10.00 Interest ....................................... 18.13 Yard Signs Donations ................. 10.00 Total Income ...................... $10,002.68 Expenses Administrative costs ................... 10.00 Advertising .................................. 66.00 Annual Meeting .......................... 12.98 Bank charge ................................. 7.10 Bumper Stickers ........................ 494.76 Change for Event ....................... 60.00 Contribution .............................. 240.00 Computer .................................... 47.41 Copies & Printing ................... 1,175.43 Displays-Materials ...................... 63.52 Equipment .................................. 86.35 Fairs-Events ............................... 41.00 Insurance .................................. 275.00 internet/Email ........................... 239.04 Monroe County Fair .................. 339.84 Newsletter ............................. 2,277.01 Office Supplies ......................... 242.75 Phone & DSL ............................ 614.27 Phone & FAX .............................. 96.59 Postage & Fed Ex ................. 1,260.51 Promotional Material ................ 481.12 Travel .................................... 1,182.79 Video ........................................ 300.00 Total Expenses: ................. $10,073.47 Assets: Checking Account ................. 5,414.10 Savings Account .................... 1,620.86 WebSales Account .................. 204.09 Total Assets 12/31/07: ......... $7,239.05

FIRM GETS I-69 JOB JUST MONTHS AFTER SETTLING FRAUD CLAIM An AP article in April revealed that Gohmann Asphalt and Construction Inc., based in Clarksville, IN, was awarded a $25.23 million contract to build a 1.77 mile section of highway from I-64 near Evansville to SR 68. In February, this company also won a $70,000 Indiana Department of Transportation contract to clear the land and raze homes in the first section. In December of 2007 Gohmann agreed in to pay $8.2 million to settle fraud claims alleging that it switched road core samples to hide inadequate work. Their fraudulent practices had been going on from 1997 to 2006. In addition to repaying $8.2 million from work it completed on 132 federally funded road projects in Indiana and Kentucky, Gohmann will refund the $5.3 million bonus it received in 2001 for the early completion of work on I-64 in Kentucky. According to government statements, Gohmann employees switched core samples from paving projects with higher grade samples before testing occurred. That allowed Gohmann to receive higher levels of payment on road projects. Gohman underbid the project with the hope to make up losses by claiming cost overruns (common in the construction industry) and by receiving more contracts if I-69 is continued. There are law abiding, competent contractors in Indiana. Why should the state reward a company that has been defrauding them for years? This scandal follows from a study process that has been biased and corrupted from the start. The citizens of Indiana deserve better.

Candidate Positions on I-69 October 2008 In September CARR sent a survey to candidates for State and Congressional offices. Thank you to all the candidates who returned the survey. Citizens must consider many issues when voting. It is CARR's responsibility to inform our members on candidates positions on I-69. Our information comes from public statements and actions as well as the candidate survey that we distributed. In our candidate survey all respondents indicated they think transportation funding will be a concern in the next session and most stated they are against privatizing roads to help fund INDOT's budget. If you would like more information on our survey email us at [email protected]. Governor: Andrew Horning (L): "I am the only candidate [for governor] against I 69, it's a huge waste of money" Supporters of the US41/I-70 alternative for I-69. Eric Schansberg (L) US Congress District 9 Barry Campbell (L) IN Senate District 36 Fred Demske (D) IN Senate District 13 Matt Pierce (D) IN House District 61 Vern Tincher (D) IN House District 46 Joe Weingarten (D) IN House District 29 Michael Cesnik (D) IN House District 35 Steven Heastow (D) IN House District 83 Shelia Klinker (D) IN House District 27 Larry E. Rensberger (D) IN House District 22 Robert L. Snow (D) IN House District 38 John J. Day (D) IN House District 100 Ed Angleton (L) IN House District 100 Marty Voegele (Ind) IN House District 67 Nancy Michael (D) IN House District 44 Rex Bell (L) IN House District 54

Matt Pierce HD 61: As a legislator, I am working to change Indiana's transportation funding priorities and focus attention on the true cost of the I-69 extension."

Cy Huerter (R) IN House District 11 supports US41/I-70 for I-69 and privatization of roads: Al Cox (L) IN House District 65 supports I-69 as a private toll road. Candidates opposed to any I-69 Alternatives: Lawrence T. Newman (R) IN House District 96 Marke Wehrke (D) IN House District 84 Pamela Hickman (D) House District 87 Other Candidates Opposed to the new terrain I-69: Mark Stoops (D) Candidate for Monroe County Commissioner: Kevin Enright (D) Monroe County Surveyor Kathy Crouch,(R) Greene County Commissioner Supporters of the new terrain I-69: Candidates for Governor Mitch Daniels (R) and Jill Long Thompson (D) support new terrain I-69. Peggy Welch (D) IN House District 60 Vaneta Becker (R) Senate District 50 Brent Steele (R) Senate District 44

Mark Stoops, Monroe County Commissioner "Local elected officials must work together to lobby against the new terrain [I-69] proposal. Monroe County and the City of Bloomington must present a unified front opposing the construction of I-69."

INDIANA

PLANNING FOR THE PAST vs PLANNING FOR FUTURE

A September 27, 2008 Associated Press article shows the costs difference between the I-69 extension and the construction of public transit systems in Indiana. The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Council voted in favor of a plan to establish a 19 mile commuter rail line between downtown Indianapolis and the northern suburb of Noblesville. Officials say the rail line could be up and running as soon as 2012. The line would run every 30 minutes during the peak morning and evening drive times, relieving traffic on the congested I-69 corridor NE of Indianapolis. Engineering consultant John Myers estimates the 19 mile rail line would cost $100$160 million. That cost includes the track, building stations and buying equipment. No funding is currently available for this project. Conservative estimates for I-69 are currently around $4 billion. Governor Daniels has committed $700 million to the construction of I-69, which would build only about 30 miles of new roadway. The state has admitted that there is no funding for the remainder of I-69. 5 Michael Cesnik (D), House district 35: ..."Given the economic crisis we are facing in Indiana I believe we should use the US41/I-70 route for the proposed I-69 extension."

For $4 billion Indiana could build over 20 commuter rail lines similar to the Indy to Noblesville line. These lines could be built where most needed around the state, benefitting many more citizens and taxpayers.

Indiana is already 11th in the Nation in total interstate miles and 10th in the Nation in the number of interstate miles per land area. Meanwhile, Indiana is near the bottom among the states in public transit systems. I-69 means pouring billions of dollars into a barren project. Meanwhile, our existing roads and bridges require huge sums of money to upgrade and maintain. A sound transportation system for our future will include good public transit as well as well-maintained highways and bridges.

(Continued from page 1)

All of these factors argue strongly against the I-69 extension. Unfortunately, these pressing problems are being ignored by INDOT and Governor Daniels. The billions that would be spent on I-69 could be used to maintain our deteriorating highways and bridges and to begin the construction of a viable public transit system in Indiana. CARR has argued for 18 years that the proposed I-69 extension is too environmentally destructive, disruptive to communities, uneconomical and unnecessary. In the past few years the world has changed dramatically and with it has gone any need for building the new terrain I-69.

KENTUCKY

COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF KENTUCKY PORTION OF I-69 SKYROCKETS --Tolling new bridge won’t cover the cost. Why does cost of Indiana portion not change?

According to a study by Kentucky consultants URS Corp. and Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., in 2003, the cost of building a new Ohio River bridge and running I-69 from I-164 in Evansville to the Pennyrile/Breathitt Parkway just south of Henderson, Kentucky, was estimated at $750 million. In July of this year the cost estimate had risen to $1.4 billion. Kentucky will be responsible for two-thirds of the cost, or $943 million. Indiana is to pay one-third, or $467 million. “Construction costs continue to escalate due to the higher price of fuel and world demand for steel and concrete”, according to the study. Even placing $2 tolls on both the I-69 bridge AND the existing US 41 twin bridges wouldn’t generate all the money needed to pay off the bonds for the project, according to the study commissioned by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Tolls on all bridges would cover only 26% to 43% of the cost, even when combined with a federal loan and other measures. Putting tolls only on the I-69 bridge would cause thousands of vehicles each day to bypass the new bridge and use the free twin bridges instead, making the project “significantly less feasible” according to the study. In Indiana, INDOT is still using its December 2003 cost estimate for the entire cost of I69. They are afraid of the public and political outcry if they revealed the true cost of I69. In a democracy, the first rule is that the public and policy makers need accurate and honest information on which to base decisions. We are not getting that from INDOT or Governor Daniels.

TEXAS

TEXAS TO USE EXISTING ROADS FOR I-69

In June of this year, the Texas Department of Transportation announced that it will upgrade existing highways for its portion of the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor Project. TxDOT Executive Director Amaneo Saenz, in a letter to the Federal Highway Administration, wrote: “The preliminary basis for this decision centers on the review of nearly 28,000 public comments made on the Tier One Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The overwhelming sentiment of these comments focused on the need to improve the existing transportation network” rather than building a new corridor for I69. Does this sound familiar? Of the 21,873 comments submitted to INDOT in 2002 on the Draft EIS for I-69 in Indiana, 94% (20,467) were in favor of upgrading the US41/I-70 corridor and/or opposed to the INDOT’s preferred new terrain route. We believe that Texas is using existing highways because it is much less expensive to upgrade existing roadways than to build a new terrain highway. If they can do it in Texas we can do it in Indiana.

J

oin CARR in stopping the new-terrain I-69 through Southwest Indiana. The benefits of membership include: receiving the newsletter and action alerts when important meetings or issues arise and taking an important leadership role in stopping this wasteful project.

MEMBERSHIP FORM:

Tear off this form and mail it to CARR, PO Box 54, Stanford, IN 47463 (812/825-9555).

In addition to my membership, I am enclosing a gift of $_________________ to help CARR defeat I-69 Name

Telephone

Address Street/Road/PO Box

City

State

Zip

Email Individual $25.00_______

County of Residence Family $50.00_______

Sustaining $100.00_________

Other $________

No. of family members in this membership _____ I can’t contribute right now, but count me as a member____ Check here if you want a bumper sticker

☐

Fix The Roads We Have Stop The I-69 HIGHWAY!

CARR is not a 501(c)(3) corporation and donations to us cannot be deducted from your tax return. If you need the tax deduction, please write your check to the Hoosier Environmental Council Foundation. Please mail the check to CARR. Thank you again for your support. Together we will stop Toll I-69! Thank you to our new members and generous supporters: Julio Alonso, Annette Alpert, Gray Anderson, Jan & Bob Angel, Bill Bailey, Cheryl Baumgart, John Baumhauer, Ernest Bernardt, Mary Ellen Bieder, Mary Bookwalter, Lois & Bob Boruff, Bill & Jan Boyd, Marcia Brammer, Patrick Brantlinger, John & Janet Braun, Lorinda Browning, Clark Buchner, Debra Bunn, Brenda & Terry Buster, Cathy Caldie, Sam Carmichael, John Coats, Wayne Corne, Jr., Kerry Davis, Susan & Doug Davis, Wendy Davis, Charlotte Dawes, Barry Dean, Stephanie Dean, Ashok Desai, William Dowling, James Doyle, Andy Durkin, Aaron & Laura Etter, Sandy Ewing, Jim & Karen Farlow, Julie Farris, Rob Fischman, Peggy & Jim Flickinger, Bob Flynn, Tom Flynn & Judie Goldstein, Greg Foote, Patricia Foster, Stanley Fulk, Tom Gallagher & Nancy Lethem, Nancy & Terry Gelhausen, Vincent Georges & Sons Farms, Inc., Constine & Cathy Gianikos, Lynne Gilliatt, Tom Glastras, Donna Goddard, Gregg Golden, Eric Goldsmith, Holly Graef, Raymond Graham, Pamela Granderson, Marilyn Greenwood & Ken Williams, Jacqueline Griffin, Jess Gwinn & Maureen Forrest, Joe Gwinn, Sue Haas, Leif Hagglund, Charles Haley, Weir Hall, Fred Hanson, Elsa Harik, Ramsey Harik, Jim Hart, Jeff Hartenfeld & Jen Robinson, Richard Harvey, Donald & Marjorie Hattin, Pamela & Dwight Hazen, Lee Hazer, Ric & Shirley Heeter, Julia Heiman, Jane Henderson, Steven Hendricks, Dan & Beverly Himes, Cheryl Hoerter, Harry Hollis, Janet Hollis & Ronald Selby, Helen Hopp, John Houff, Neil Hugentober, Charles Hughes, Kathleen Hull, Jeffrey Huntsman, James Jackson, Thomas Jackson, Toby & Peg James, Tom & Kenda Jochim, Burton & Eleanor Jones, Harold Jones, Jeff & Heidi Leisz, Jerome Levy, Don & Rita Lichtenberg, David & Phyllis Little, Paul & Arzetta Losensky, Dorothy Mack, Jim Maierson, Randy & Martha Marmouze, Christine Matheu, Betty Maxwell, May Creek Farm, Leah Helen May, John & Anna McCall, Sharon & Charlie McKeen, John & Rhonda Meding, Jeanne Melchior, Jerry Merriman, Jeffrey Miller, Norma Miller, Bill Miller (Oakland City), Suzanne Mittenthal, Terry Moore, John Moran, Suzanne Mudge, Mike Mullett, Sue & Harry Murphy, Charles & Sandy Newmann, Otto & Mary Frances Neyhouse, David Nord, Beverly Ohneck- Holly, Wayne Ormes, Tom & Virginia Partin, Joe & Joyce Peden, Patricia Rabiola, Charles & Linda Ramsden, Meri & Byron Reinhold, Michael Replogle, Jim & Carol Rice, Veronica, Ries, Elaine Rivron, Liz Roberts, Janel Rogers, Jim Rosenbarger, Niles Rosenquist, Sarah Ryterband, Ken Sauer, Alice Schloss, Dan Selvaggi, Don & Linda Sharp, Kenneth & Janet Sheppard, Janette Shetter, Patrick Siney, Lorraine Sirucek, Ingrid Skoog, Murray Smidt, Carol Smith, Kelly Smith, Marietta Smith, Liny Smits, Clark & Vicky Sorensen, Ed Talucci, Deb & Dan Toth, Terrie & Terry Usrey, Marcia Veldman & Steve Cotter, Sue & Richard Vernier, Penney Waggoner, Peter Guardino, Charles Weand, Jen Weiss, Wayne Werne, Sue Westhues, Tracy Whelan, J. Whitmore, Ian Woollen, Natalie Wrubel, Charles Yeager, Tom Zeta & Laura Pinhey.

CARR Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads PO Box 54 Stanford, IN 47463 812/ 825-9555 800/515-6936 www.carri69/org

If citizens do not hold our elected officials responsible at the polling booth, we may be paying forever at the tolling booth. NOTE: If you are receiving this as a forwarded mail, please contact us to update your address!

What is that on my mailing label and what does it mean? Member Number

5555 Jacky Hoosier 123 No New Terrain Lane Southwestern, IN 11111-1111

01/21/01

Date of Most Recent Contribution

Please let us know if there are errors in your name or address, or if you would like us to take your name off our mailing list. Contact us at 812/825-9555 or 800/515-6936, PO Box 54 Stanford, IN 47463 or [email protected]. Please reference the number in the upper left-hand corner of your mailing label. Thanks for your help! Our newsletter is available on our web site, though usually somewhat later than the paper version. You can switch to an e-version by letting us know your preference.

CARR is an all-volunteer organization and we need your assistance to keep our mailing list up to date. We “build” our mailing list from names on our petition, which are sometimes hard to decipher. Help us by informing us of incorrect spellings and duplicate mailings.