On the Innerbelt Plan projet by ODOT I wondered why I hadn�t seen anything about ODOT [Ohio Department of Transportation] and the Innerbelt Plan in Cool Cleveland lately, but I have discovered that they [ODOT] have excused the public from the process while they decide how to spend our BILLION dollars. They politely asked for our opinion, and now that they have heard us, they can go back to their original plans. If you think that you can trust ODOT and the Federal Highway Department with your tax dollars think again. These are the guys who made the trench and dead man�s curve in the first place. They are the same guys who had to be stopped from running a freeway right through the Shaker Lakes. And remember the south bound exit to the airport area. Now theses are some really well thought out traffic plans. NOT! Now you may say, I live in Westlake, Euclid, Garfield, what do I care about the Innerbelt Bridge? Well you might care about the economy in Cleveland. In a city continually deemed one of the poorest cities in the country, a city so desperate for any economic influx that it will weigh the obvious downside of casino gambling against the potential cash; that tries to attract supermarkets to superfund sites; wants to build a big box almost anywhere; you would think that before we take on a project that will totally change the face of transportation into and out of its central city, its business district, its sportsplexs and its now famous waterfront; a project that provides one of the largest infusions of cash we have ever seen, we would take the time to do an economic impact study before moving forward. This is a project that could clearly make or break this city�s economic future. You have a choice�you have given your money to the government, and now they are going to spend it. You and your neighbors have been duped-you�ve been uninvited to the table where your future is being planned once again. You can sit back while ODOT spends $900,000 to build a one way signature bridge out of town or tell your elected officials that you want them to follow their road map, do the environmental, the engineering and the economic impact studies, to carefully consider the alternatives and let the public back into the process. You can learn more and take action here. Add your voice to a growing chorus of voices who don�t want to just let Columbus decide. http://www.neobridge.net/take_action It only takes a minute.
from Cool Cleveland reader Susan Miller reproj2ATmsn.com

Almost five months ago, representatives from ODOT and city of Cleveland signed a letter "�to make sure that our stakeholders and the general public clearly understand the Federal process that remains before us. And, specifically when and how public input correlates with the overall process." ODOT and the city of Cleveland promised the public that an "Alternatives Report" and "Economic Impact Analysis" would be completed in December for public comment. Over three months later, neither the Alternatives Report nor the Economic Impact Analysis exist, and the public comment deadline expired in January. Director Proctor and Mayor Jackson � What's going on? Read more... Here's what went on! Aside from the problems with the �Trench� segment of the Innerbelt Plan, ODOT and the city of Cleveland have invalidly removed the Southern Bridge Alignment Alternative from further consideration. In June 2005, ODOT removed the only Innerbelt Bridge Alternative because they claimed that it would take the Greek Orthodox Church. In January 2006, ODOT acknowledged that the church would not have to taken, in a clandestine meeting to get endorsements from public officials. Yet, ODOT and the city of Cleveland will not reconsider this alternative. We are stuck with no alternative to ODOT's plan to maintain the existing 50 year old bridge and build a �one way� bridge out of downtown for about a billion dollars. ODOT never mentions the cost to replace the existing bridge in the future or the traffic interruptions for its plan. We need to explore and compare all alternatives before we can make informed decisions about the largest public investment in the history of Northeast Ohio. For a $200,000 study this community may save $500,000,000 with an alternative for a �two way� signature bridge south of the replaced existing bridge. ODOT seems to have by-passed National Historic Preservation Act because they did not address a property eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. That historic property is ODOT property take #19- Gillota Fuel Products, located on the old Central Viaduct remnant. The historic Broadway Mills Company Building was built in 1894 and is attached to the historic Central Viaduct remnant, built in 1888. The Cleveland Landmarks Commission will vote on the nomination of the historic building and viaduct as Cleveland Landmarks, this Thursday (4/13) at 9 a.m., in Cleveland City Hall. What needs to happen? The Ohio Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the city of Cleveland must correct the flawed Project Development Process (PDP) to restore the public's trust and confidence by taking the following actions: Update the existing PDP schedule (11/17/05) and distribute it to the public. This schedule has not been followed as promised by ODOT and the city of Cleveland. The result is that the public cannot participate in the PDP public process in a meaningful and logical manner. Complete the "Alternatives Report� and the "Economic Impact Analysis," for the Cleveland Innerbelt Plan. The report and analysis were promised to be completed in December 2005. The public never had the chance to review the report and analysis allowing us to provide informed comments on ODOT's "Recommended Preferred Alternatives." The public comment period expired on January 31, 2006 and the report and analysis do not exist at this time. Extend the public comment period for at least 30 days after the completion of the report and analysis. Hire an independent consultant to do an Engineering Study and Economic Impact Analysis to compare the feasibility, traffic interruptions, and justify the costs of the Northern and Southern Bridge Alignment Alternatives. What you can do? Seize the day! Click here [http://www.neobridge.net/take_action] to let our elected officials know that you care about how our approximately ONE BILLION tax dollars are being spent. We can have a beautiful bridge and a smart transportation system in our region, but it will take many more of us demanding a transparent and inclusive process. Take a stand � you�re being taxed, now be represented. Let�s let our elected officials know that we won�t be fooled or bullied into letting backroom decisions continue to affect our region. Take action now http://www.neobridge.net/take_action! For more information go to http://www.neobridge.net.
from Cool Cleveland reader Ed Hauser ejhauserATameritech.net (:divend:)