Friends. If you are planning to go to any of the upcoming focus groups about the future funding of Iowa's transportation infrastructure, let me note my response to the first such meeting held in Sioux City. The format was not very conducive for getting environmental problems on the table. (so I interrupted the format a few times). David Forkenbrock from University of Iowa tried to generate involvement by giving representatives of various constituencies "ruler" status for a few minutes--kind of a wishlist approach. I tried to interject the ideas I derived from Pam Mackey-Taylor's memo, from email generated off the topics list, and some fine Sierra materials on transportation. Below find written comments I submitted after the meeting via email to Prof. Forenbrock. If I can help you prepare for participation, let me know. Jim Redmond Northwest Iowa Group Thanks again for inviting me to participate in the focus group in Sioux City. I found myself interrupting you several times and perhaps that was because of the format you used. You have a difficult time balancing a range of views and enabling the discussion to bring out the ideas of many participants who have never shared a table before. Please pass along these additional comments to Barbara MacGregor and the other members of the Transportation Commission. Jim Redmond Thank you for the opportunity to present ideas about the future of transportation investment in Iowa. In addition to the comments recorded during the Sioux City focus group June 24, 2003, I need to add these written comments. Future expenditures on transportation infrastructure should not repeat the mistakes of the past. Years ago we had choices of whether to take a train, ride a bus, send it by rail, or go by car. Infrastructure decisions have led to a reduction of choice: I can only get there by car; I can only get it there by truck. I noted that almost all of the Iowa landscape has been "engineered" by plows or bulldozers; we have very few undisturbed, natural places left. Any new transportation construction should occur elsewhere. Public and private natural preserves should be maintained when by-passes, etc. are planned. Because of the value of the remnants of natural areas along roadsides, trails, and rail corridors, the Department of Transportation has the opportunity to preserve or restore some of the natural vegetation. I know that you have an active roadside vegetation program where native grasses and wildflowers are being reintroduced. I hope that funding is increased. As you reseed areas, I encourage you to use local eco-types rather than imported seed. Here is another Iowa business enterprise that can be encouraged. If Iowa farmers/stewards were aware that their prairie remnants could supply your department with valuable stock, they might begin conserving and harvesting these prairies. We have reports that roadsides are being cleared of grasses, wildflowers, and trees. We hope that where ecologically appropriate, these native species be spared the Roundup treatment. Although Brent Nelson, Sioux City planner, and Richard Storm, Woodbury County engineer, referred to the competition between city and county, no one at our session admitted that Des Moines, Sioux City, and other cities in the state are suffering from extra-urban sprawl. Such lack of candidness will never let the transportation commission deal with the negative effects of transportation investments. Has the commission studied the legislative committee work on land-use and sprawl? SPEED and GROWTH were the key desires expressed by participants in the discussion. Fuel guzzling trucks seemed to be everyone's answer. Encouraging the importation by truck of almost all of our commodities consumed in the state is a mistake. Transportation and Economic planners should be encouraging short loads and local production of both foodstuffs and other products. Encouraging export from the state by truck is also damaging to our quality of life. If truck traffic grows 50% on Interstate s 80, 35, and 29, there will be more roadkill along the highways and much of it will be human. Funds generated through road-use taxes should also be used to address transportation needs beyond the concrete. Expenditures for mitigation of problems like noise pollution and water pollution should also come from these taxes. Sidewalks and bicycle paths should be an integral part of any transportation part of a residential or commercial development. More pedestrian and bicycle deaths are occurring in suburban streets because when someone chooses to walk or bicycle, there aren't the sidewalks to use. Not every suburban journey is taken by car. I was quite pleased with the vanpool/carpool initiatives discussed at the forum (Wells Blue Bunny and University of Iowa). State economic incentive grants could include the stipulation that the benefiting corporation should have a plan for supporting employees who participate in pooling. See the Bank of America experience with making energy-efficient transportation choices a part of their employee compensation packages. Although highway safety issues received some attention during our discussion, I would urge the Transportation Commission to work with the Department of Natural Resources to reduce the size of the deer herd in Iowa. The Sierra Club and other environmental groups want deer herds of a size that fit the habitat. Hunting is a good activity but artificially high numbers of deer will lead to danger on the highways of Iowa. Putting in new roads through a natural area also increases the chance of death and accidents because of deer. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp