Meadowcreek Parkway vote this evening

There was a great deal of public discussion on the original letter outlining the criteria for City Council to support the Parkway, but there has been NO public debate of this fundamental change in policy….I serve on the Transportation Funding Task Force that is looking into finding ways of paying for road projects and I have to tell you that there is little hope that we will find a source of funds that will pay for the interchange and the many other road projects in our area in the short term. Yes, we may be able to find $25 million to pay for the interchange, but by the time we raise that much money, the cost of the parkway will have doubled and the Interchange will cost $50 million….First, it is irrational to think that the overall transportation system in our area will be hurt by building more roads…. If the Bypass suffersfrom the addition of the Parkway, we should blame ourselves for failing to look ahead and build more roads in the past 50 years.If the desire of City Council is to KILL the parkway, please just pass such a motion so that then we can all move on. We’re sure you are aware that recent surveys indicate that a majority of City residents want the Parkway built, so we would hope that Council does not want to kill the Parkway…. ÊI serve on the Transportation Funding TaskForce that is looking into finding ways of paying for road projects and I haveto tell you that there is little hope that we will find a source of funds thatwill pay for the interchange and the many other road projects in our area in theshort term. ÊYes, we may be able to find $25 million to pay for theinterchange, but by the time we raise that much money, the cost of the parkwaywill have doubled and the Interchange will cost $50 million.ÊÊWefind little credibility in the argument that the intersection fails if theparkway is built…. ÊIf the Bypass suffers fromthe addition of the Parkway, we should blame ourselves for failing to look aheadand build more roads in the past 50years.ÊIfthe desire of City Council is to KILL the parkway, please just pass such amotion so that then we can all move on. ÊWe?re sure you are awarethat recent surveys indicate that a majority of City residents want the Parkwaybuilt, so we would hope that Council does not want to kill the Parkway.ÊWhatever happens, we hope that you will not practice secretive politicsand avoid the sunlight of publicparticipation.ÊThankyou for your consideration.

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Fuel efficiency advocates

A strong majority (66%) of Americans agree that it is patriotic to buy a fuel efficient vehicle that uses less gasoline and, therefore, requires this country to import less oil from the Middle East…. About three out of five conservatives (57%) agree that buying a fuel-efficient vehicle is a patriotic act, as do 67% of those who follow NASCAR. …Not sure I agree with all…

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ASAP’s annual report

WINA – The annual report from the group Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population contains its goals for 2005. ASAP wants the County to provide information on how many people it estimates could live here without affecting quality of life. The group is also looking at the urban water supply and ways of estimating the County’s optimum population size…. While ASAP has disagreed with CAAR on a number of issues and approaches, we agree on this fundamental principle?it should be easier for developers to build in the Growth Areas than in the Rural Areas, and County policies should reinforce that principle.

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Limited service takes a hit

In a sign of possible things to come, The state Senate in Oklahoma passed an emergency measure last week that sets mandatory services for brokers involved in real estate transactions. The legislation provides that a transaction broker has duties and responsibilities “which are mandatory and may not be abrogated or waived by any party for whom the transaction broker performs any services.” These mandatory services…

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