Public Disrupts Meeting on I-10 Bypass : AZ IMC

A meeting of the State Transportation Board erupted into disorder
this morning when board Chairman Joe Lane cut off the public comment
period with more than 50 people still waiting to comment on the proposed
I-10 Bypass.

Before the meeting even began, more than a dozen protesters from the
group San Pedro Wild had gathered outside with signs and puppets,
declaring that "I-10 Bypass = Death."

"Walls and Roads No, Wild Rivers Yes!" a banner proclaimed.

Inside, the State Transportation Board was hearing the summarized
results of a preliminary study into the possibility of building an I-10
bypass from east of Tucson, near Willcox, to west of Phoenix, near
Buckeye. AZ Department of Transportation representative Dale Buskirk and
a representative of the consulting firm URS presented their findings
that a bypass around the Phoenix area would be unnecessary, as that role
is already filled by SR-85 and I-8, and that a bypass around the Tucson
area would:

* offer only "limited" or "modest" relief of traffic congestion
* provide an alternative only for long trips
* traverse "sensitive" or "extremely sensitive" lands

and that "opposition" or "strong opposition" had been expressed to all
four proposed routes. While the 3 routes through the San Pedro Valley
have garnered the most controversy, Buskirk noted that even the route
through the Avra Valley west of Tucson would have to pass through either
Tohono O'odham territory or part of the Tucson Mitigation Corridor. (For
more background on why this bypass is a terrible idea, see
http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2007/12/70994.php)

Many of those who had a chance to comment, including representatives of
the Cascabel Working Group, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders
of Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy, emphasized that the bypass
itself is a terrible idea, no matter where it is placed. Both the
Cochise and Pima county governments agree, and have passed resolutions
against the plan.

After the presentation, bypass proponent and board member Si Schorr
asked Buskirk several leading questions, seeking to make the case that a
bypass would bring economic development to the areas it passes through
(presumably after it destroys them), and that the anticipated increase
in truck traffic necessitates the highway even if Arizona's population
growth slows (as one would imagine might occur when water and petroleum
start to run out in the next decade or so).

Buskirk reiterated that I-10 is a "major trade corridor" moving goods in
from the Pacific Rim, and that the U.S. Department of Transportation has
given a Corridors of the Future grant to protect the viability of this
trade.

Board chairman Joe Lane then opened the meeting up for public comment,
stating that only one person from each group would be allowed to speak.
This contradicted a promise he had earlier made to members of the
Cascabell Working Group, who had driven for nearly 2 hours from their
homes in the San Pedro Valley to attend the meeting. After fewer than 10
comments, Lane called for a 10-minute break.

When the meeting reconvened, Lane announced that there would be no more
public comments heard and that the I-10 bypass agenda item was finished,
even though he still had more than 50 public comment request cards in
his hand. Voices from the back of the room began shouting their
disapproval, saying that Lane had promised one representative from each
group, and pointing out that this was not the first promise he had
broken that morning. More voices soon joined them, with the outraged
public demanding that everyone, not just those affiliated with
organizations, have a chance to get their say.

"But you're all saying the same thing," Lane responded petulantly.

"And you need to hear it!" came the reply

Lane said that his decision was final, and pointed out the back door
"for those who don't like it."

"Why don't you go out it then, and leave us to have our own meeting?"

Disorder reigned for several more minutes, with the yelling and clapping
escalating. One person began to shout that the board had already made up
its mind about this road, and did not care about public opinion.

In the end, the angry opposition filed out of the room to leave the
board to its "business," but not before shouting a few warnings,
including "See you next time!" and, "We'll never let you build this road!"