Many of us have been busy behind the scene helping move the project along and seeking solutions. But we have not done a good job of keeping our followers tuned in to the issues. So here's an update.
First things first, however. Jim Burkholder reports that we have the equivalent of spring crust skiing right now on the land below the bluff between the sewage treatment plant and Point Campbell. Just go along the coastal trail and find your way down to sea level and ski anywhere. Jim says it is almost as good as crust skiing at Portage in April. Check it out before the weather changes.
Now for the trail update. Many of you have sent in your comments to the trail planners, either at the public hearings or simply by e-mail. Thanks for doing so. Your responses to date far outnumber the opposition and every comment gets counted, regardless of whether it was public testimony or simply an e-mail message. They all count the same in the eyes of the trail planners.
But we can't rest on our laurels. More comment is needed to counter the misinformation and distortions being put out there by the opposition. The Sartans keep harping on losing hunting, rifle range and motocross privileges, even though the trail has been routed to totally avoid those areas. They talk about turning neighborhood parks into parking lots for the trail, even though no parking lots are planned where they claim park land will be lost. They make a big deal out of losing private property below the bluff, when many of their less vocal bluff neighbors welcome the trail and the dollars they will receive for allowing the trail to pass by their homes. Remember, it's a small group of noisy opponents trying to make the decision for all of the rest of us. And unless we continue to speak up, they just might get their way.
What can each of you do to keep things on track? Two things right now are very important. First, we need to keep sending comments to the trail planners. It's OK to send more than one comment. Just try to focus each comment on a specific issue and keep the e-mails going. Second, more letters to the editor will also help. Again, try to deal with specific issues. The Voice of the Times and the Anchorage Chronicle have even been following the project, so don't hesitate to send letters to them also. Here are some themes you may want to use for your comments and letters:
1. The route recommended by the EIS has the blessing of the Municipality, DOT and the Federal Highway folks that fund over 90% of the project. They have not taken their task lightly and would not bless the Orange Modified route if the work was not done properly. We can rely on the recommendations in the EIS.
2. The route recommended by the EIS also has the blessing of thousands of hours of independent, professional consultants work. They stake their reputations on these types of things and can ill afford to do shoddy work. Just another reason to rely on the recommendations of the EIS.
3. The Orange Modified route follows the coast, crosses the fewest number of roads and driveways, and provides stunning views of the refuge and the surrounding mountains. It's still the trail we have always envisioned and it is within our grasp.
4. The cost of the trail is similar to just another freeway overpass, an extension of Bragaw Street, a railroad terminal at the airport or any number of other federally-funded projects that we freely accept and build without batting an eye. The money spent stimulates our local economy many times over and enhances our quality of life much more than other transportation projects. Why are we so willing to look askance at the cost of the trail when we so willingly embrace all other federal dollars coming into our community?
5. No, the federal funding can't be used to build other roads, bridges, freeways, etc. It must be used for "Transportation Enhancements", which in our community means trails. We put this trail at the top of our priority list years ago and it is still there. We can build it in phases so we don't use all the money at one time, which allows other projects to proceed in concert with this one. It's the way we've always done it.
6. We can fix most of the private property issues that the Sartans use as their whipping boys for stopping the trail, if we are allowed to use a little common sense. And we can do it without adversely impacting the land or the wildlife. We have been working on a number of solutions to these issues, and they will help reduce the costs too, if they are implemented.
7. Finally, realize we all have a "right" here that we are being denied. Our "right" is to access the public land that is the wildlife refuge. The management plan for the refuge says we have this "right" when it tells Fish & Game they must manage the refuge "for protection of wildlife and their habitat, and for the use and enjoyment of the people of the state". It's in the Alaska Statutes. A coastal trail is how we exercise our "right" and all the hard work in the EIS supports our "right". Please don't let a vocal minority deny that "right" any longer.
Feel free to use any of these themes to make comments to the media and the trail planners. You know how to contact the Daily News and other newspapers. You can send your comments to the trail planners by e-mail at southtrailcomment@hdrinc.com. If you are looking for other background information from which to make comments, check out the attached "Reasons to Build" document or take a look at our web site at http://home.gci.net/~bjarne/trail. Thanks to Bjarne Holm for setting up the web site. It's a work in progress, so check back for updates and additions.
Send this message to your friends and ask them to continue to comment. And thanks for doing all you have done already.
Mike
Friends of Coastal Trail
TrailFriends@gci.net