Re: [Mpls] some thoughts on the 35W Access Project

[GarySimmbo]

I appreciate Antonio's post, especially the emphasis on understanding the process of imposing this expansion project on the people of the metro area.

The political paradox involved in this is a local expression of a pervasive problem in politics today.  I encourage list members to check out the article by Robert Jenson entitled "The American Political Paradox:  More Freedom, Less Democracy" at:

http://www.counterpunch.org/jensen1012.html 

The sections of the article entitled "What does Democracy Look Like?" and "American Propaganda" and "Beyond Parody" are especially relevant.

Here is the central question Jenson asks:


"This is the paradox to come to terms with: How is it that as formal freedoms that allow democratic participation have expanded, the range and importance of debate and discussion that is essential to democracy has contracted? How is it that in the United States we have arguably the most expansive free speech rights in the industrial world and at the same time an incredibly degraded political culture?"


With regard to the I35W expansion project, it is clear that an elite public/private alliance is attempting to "spin" this project into reality by a carefully crafted campaign which provides for limited "free speech" by presenting a very narrow menu of options regarding the transportation options for this part of the metro.

The options presented are done so to coerce one conclusion only -- the "preferred build" option over the "only" alternative -- the "no build" option.

The $150 million (plus) freeway expansion project is presented as a solution to congestion and pollution problems  when in fact (See the recent Strib articles on transportation, especially the example of Atlanta, GA)  this project will increase both congestion and pollution.

The expansion project proponents have not presented the facts about the public health impacts our current approach of over-reliance on the car has in our region.
Here is an excellent website summarizing impacts of "mobile source pollution" on our air, water, soil, and human health in the metro area:

http://www.scorecard.org/community/index.tcl?zip_code=55409 

Note that Hennepin County is amoung the dirtiest/worst 10% of US counties in terms of noncancer hazards from air pollution, and that people living in HC have a cancer risk 100 times greater than if we had air quality meeting the EPA standards.

Also note that 66% of the air-quality-caused cancer risk is from "mobile" sources.

This is a huge public health problem.  Why do you suppose media and the government are so quiet about this?   Why are we being spun an I35W freeway expansion project as an "access" project that will ultimately make "access" more difficult due to increased congestion and pollution?

There is more:  most of the watershed in our county is listed as "impaired or threatened" by the EPA.  Much of this is -- not all -- is caused by run-off of toxins released by cars and trucks, which are washed into our lakes and streams.  The more we pave, the worse this problem will get.  The proponents of the I35W expansion project neglect to mention this as a part of their presentations.

Another good source of info expands on this:

http://www.tlcminnesota.org/health.html 

And check out this site:

http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/Update17.htm 

Note that the World Health Organization estimates that 3 times as many people are killed by air pollution each year (3 million) than by car crashes (one million).  Again, mobile sources are not the only source of air pollution, but are a major source -- 66% or more in our metro region.

Do we need to add more cars right now?  Could we spend that $150 million to run a rail line in the I35W corridor, or simply to put more and cleaner-running busses in a dedicated lane on the I35W corridor to give people a better transit choice?  Could we spend some of that money -- even a few million dollars to educate folks about the consequences of our lifestyle choices and to help develop the most workable transit options?

There is more, but I'll include only one more website to check out for now:

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/trans.htm 

This EPA website contains links to articles to help us understand and reduce pollution from transportation sources.  Note that the EPA site tells us this:

"Driving a private car is probably a typical citizen's most "polluting" daily activity."

It is possible to develop a lifestyle in the Twin Cities that requires use of a car less than once a month for a family of four.  I know, because I have done it.  With forward-thinking transportation development we can this more possible for more people.

We can make our city healthy again.  I believe that most people would vote for that.  However, we do not see transportation options put forward that make public health and urban livability a priority for the I35W corridor.  We have a freeway expansion project which will cause more illness and death, and which will degrade the metro area.

Clearly, this project reflects the need for more "free speech" and also an expanded political discourse which puts the people first.

This issue also makes me aware of the responsibility we as citizens have to learn about our actions and their consequences, and to shape personal lifestyles and public policy which from inception reflects this awareness.

Just some thoughts and information for all......

Gary Hoover
King Field