note from Erin: I'm sending this in two parts, because it is too large otherwise to post to Topics. Hello all - We received alot of very good nominations for the National Transportation Map, and we had to make some hard decisions. We have selected 18 "good" projects and 26 "bad" projects for inclusion. Based on the information that was sent to us, we wrote very short 2-3 sentence blurbs that will be included on the front of the map. That is the DRAFT text here that I am asking you to review. (Later on we will be drafting text for the back of the Map as well as for the website.) Also - if you think we have made a grave mistake by including or not including a certain project, you are more than welcome to make your case to us. Which brings me to my last point. Neha Bhatt, the new National Conservation Organizer for the Sprawl Campaign, will be taking over as project manager for the Map. All corespondance from here on out should go to Neha at [log in to unmask] as well as myself. Thanks and look forward to hearing from you, Melody **************************** Map Text Draft #1 Blurbs Good 1. Denver Union Station (DUS) and Transit Links, Colorado Government and citizen groups cooperated to create a project that counters sprawl through transportation choices, provides affordable housing and economic improvements, and preserves the historic character of the area. Federal CMAQ funds purchased and restored DUS, including facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians, a light rail line, and a clean-fuel shuttle bus to serve downtown Denver and surrounding communities. 2. Hiawatha Light Rail Line, Minneapolis and Bloomington, MN The 17-stop, 11.6 mile light rail line will connect the three largest areas of development in the region, promote development on land already served by transit, and provide a clean transportation choice for area commuters. The Hiawatha stations are located close to 217,430 jobs, and the regional transportation plan expects the line to serve 10 percent of regional travelers by 2025. 3. New Orleans Canal Streetcar Line, New Orleans, LA Trolleys will return to the streets of New Orleans after a 35-year absence. The five miles of trolley service, which will operate on the median of an existing roadway, will provide cleaner transportation than the bus service it replaces. The project will increase local economic development and improve transit ridership. 4. California High Speed Rail, Sacramento to San Diego, CA Up to 220-mph high speed rail will provide a backbone for California's transportation choices. The 700-mile line from Sacramento to San Diego will reduce the need to expand San Francisco and Oakland airports and provide citizens with a viable alternative to cars or flying. Most portions of the line will run on existing track, which will preserve open land and keep development centered to existing communities. 5. Main Street Light Rail Line, Houston, TX A 7.5-mile light rail line will provide an affordable transportation alternative for Houston residents, who have the most expensive transportation costs of any city in the country and air quality that rivals Los Angeles for pollution. The clean-energy project will create the only rail transit in Houston and replace the diesel buses currently serving the route. 6. Missoula in Motion, Missoula, Montana The program, using federal CMAQ money, provides seven alternative transportation choices to help Missoula residents leave their cars behind on the commute to work. Vanpooling, carpooling, walking, cycling, bus transit, and telecommuting relieve congestion on city streets and a Guaranteed Ride Home project ensure that commuters are never left stranded without a way to get home. 7. Charlotte Area Transit System, Mecklenburg County, NC The integrated road and land-use plan designed by the city and county encourages businesses and residential areas to utilize transit on five major transportation corridors. A 25-year transit improvement program will provide light rail, commuter rail, or bus rapid transit to all Charlotte residents. Bus service will connect the outer corridors to enhance the livability of the region and reduce auto dependence. 8. Route 50 Traffic Calming, Loudoun County, Virginia Twenty miles of Route 50 will receive traffic calming upgrades that stresses safety, economy, and historical awareness. Local government, police, fire departments, and businesses all support the plan that reduces speeding and aggressive driving while improving access for pedestrians and motorists. Traffic calming provides an alternative to a four-lane divided highway that would have pushed DC sprawl further into Virginia. 9. I-4 Mitigation Project Commuter Rail, Kissimmee to Deland, FL Commuter rail would eliminate the need to build another bridge across St. John's River and would take at least 2.4 million passengers off I-4 each day. The rail would run on existing CSX rail line, and provide excellent revitalization opportunities in downtown centers where these lines exist. 10. Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Commuter Rail (extension of Chicago Metra service), WI An expected 5000 daily passengers will reduce area traffic congestion as they ride the new commuter rail line between Kenosha and Milwaukee. The public-driven project does not require the building of any new roads, and the rail line will use existing track. Sprawl will be averted and growth will be directed to existing communities as cities along the rail line plan transit-oriented-development to bolster economic revitalization and transit utilization. 11. Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati Passenger Rail (3-C Rail) Ohio The 3-C rail project would reduce the need to expand Ohio's highway system while providing improved access to Ohio's cities. The rail corridor will reach speeds of up to 110 mph and link Ohio residents with other Midwestern communities. The line will include stops at shopping and residential areas to make the line a convenient alternative to driving. 12. Anchorage Airport Access Projects, Alaska A proposed train station at the Anchorage Airport combined with commuter rail service would provide a much needed clean transit alternative to access the airport. Rail service would also help those transitioning from welfare to work get jobs at the airport by providing a reliable way for them to get to work. Additionally, an intermodal transportation hub that will take passengers from the port of Seward to the airport is nearing completion. This project will save wetlands from being turned into parking lots, and fewer cars traveling to the airport will help Alaska reduce its air pollution. 13. Primary Corridor Transportation Project, Honolulu, Hawaii The 32.2-mile system will carry 46,000 passengers a day to 31 stops between downtown Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, the University of Hawaii, and area beaches. The $648 million project includes $182.1 million from the New Starts program. The project will service 8,613 low income households within ½ mile of the stops, and will result in a 50,000 annual reduction in BTUs and reduce by more than a 1/3 emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. More than 50% of the island's population and 80% of the island's jobs are located along the transit route, which will encourage ridership and reduce the temptation to sprawl. 14. Massachusetts: North-South Rail Link (NSRL) project The NSRL project would close the only gap in the east coast's intercity rail system. A connection between North Station and South Station in Boston would allow Amtrak's successful Northeast Corridor (NEC) Acela high speed rail service to extend through Boston to benefit people in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Canada. It would also significantly boost ridership on the two commuter rail systems servicing metro Boston by connecting the lines, which currently terminate at North Station and South Station respectively. 15. Bus Route Improvements, Tempe, AZ Using a dedicated one-half of one percent local sales tax approved by Tempe citizens, the city is investing in several bus route improvements in order to make the system more efficient, safe, and convenient. The project will extend the hours of several routes and increase the number of buses on others. Free bus routes that connect residential areas with business areas and major activity centers are in the process of being added to the city's transportation program. Alternative-fuel buses have been purchased, and better bus shelters have been added to the system to encourage ridership and improve the transit experience. 16. Blue Ball Improvement Project, Delaware River to Brandywine River, Delaware As part of the state's "Livable Delaware" initiative, walking and biking trails will be added to the transportation choices available to residents of northern Delaware. A storm water management system will protect water quality for area citizens and improvements will be made to existing roads. A trail system that separates vehicles and pedestrians will provide walkers and bikers access to neighboring communities and parks. 17. Inner Purple Line, Washington, D.C. The inner purple line would give DC commuters easier access to the city's inner suburbs while directing growth to existing communities. It would help those transitioning from welfare to work by providing better opportunities to reach suburban jobs. The line would connect existing metro stops and add new stations at regional employment, retail, business, and college centers. The purple line would eliminate the need to widen the Capitol Beltway, a project which would induce travel and encourage auto dependence. 18. Park East Elevated Freeway Removal, Milwaukee, WI The city of Milwaukee does not need the elevated Park East Freeway, and citizen activists prevented the project from reaching completion. By tearing down the freeway and redeveloping the land underneath it, Milwaukee will generate hundreds of millions of dollars of investment. The mayor and town council recognized that they cannot build their way out of traffic congestion. Erin Jordahl Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-8868 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]