In case you missed the July meeting about this project, there is another
meeting tonight in Des Moines.  Or, you can send your comments by mail or
email.

This highway project will impact four recreational trails and the Des Moines 
River Greenbelt.

Thanks to 1000 Friends for this information.
Jane Clark

      NW 26th Street Public Input Meeting

      Wednesday, August 13, 2008
      6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

      Central Senior Center
      2008 Forest Ave.
      Des Moines, IA

      Commonly known as the MLK Parkway Extension, Polk County and other
leaders are now calling this project the "NW 26th Street" project. This
proposal consists of


a. Reconstruction of NW 26th Street to a 4-lane facility between IA 415 and 
I 35/80

b. Construction of a new interchange at I-35/80 and NW 26th Street, and

c. Construction of a new four-lane roadway on new alignment from near Euclid 
Ave/U.S. 6 and MLK Jr Parkway and the proposed NW 26th St
interchange.

      This will be an open house with some audio/visual presentations, and
held by Snyder and Associates, the engineering firm doing the study for Polk
County. This will be a meeting to provide an update on the study and collect
input on proposed alternative locations for the project, including possible
expansion of existing streets in Des Moines like Beaver Avenue and 6th
Avenue. Another alternative presented for public comments is for expansion
of transit services in the metro area to prevent congestion in the future.

      This meeting is a part of the Environmental Impact Statement, a
federally required evaluation for a project that has extensive environmental
impacts.

      Send in Your Comments

      Public Comments are still being collected for the Northeast Polk
County Beltway and the NW 26th Street project until September 13. At that
time, the consultants will finalize summaries of citizen comments, as well
as submit comments to Polk County, as well as state and federal agencies.
The comments will be used to narrow the range of alternatives to "preferred"
locations for both projects. You can learn more about each project and range
of alternatives at

      http://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/PublicWorks/pages/specialProjects.aspx

      Mail written public comments to:

      Polk County Public Works
      5885 NE 14th Street
      Des Moines, IA 50310

      Email comments to:

      [log in to unmask]
      [log in to unmask]

      Other Decision-Makers that Should Hear Your Views:

      Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
      [log in to unmask]

      Congressman Boswell is a key decision-maker for federal earmark
requests of both of these projects because he sits on the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

      Congressman Leonard Boswell
      1427 Longworth House Office Building
      Washington, D.C. 20515-1503
      Phone: 202-225-3806 Fax: 202-225-5608

      Senator Tom Harkin
      731 Hart Senate Office Building
      Washington, D.C. 20510
      Phone: 202-224-3254 Fax: 202-224-9369

      Senator Charles Grassley
      135 Hart Senate Building
      Washington, D.C. 20510-1501
      Phone: 202-224-3744 Fax: 202-224-6020


Excerpted from a message from:
Stephanie Weisenbach
1000 Friends of Iowa

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