Environmental Council
Supports Governor's Decision to Reinstate Select Road Projects
Preserve First policy, not individual projects, remains
focus
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For
Immediate Release:
July 14, 2003
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Contacts:
Conan
Smith, MEC: 734-649-2992
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Lansing-The Michigan Environmental Council offered support
today for Governor Granholm's decision to reinstate 17 of
34 road expansion projects that had been put on hold as part
of the Governor's Preserve First initiative. Noting that the
most expensive and sprawl-inducing road proposals remain on
hold, including expansions of I-75, I-94 and the US-31 Grand
Haven bypass, the Council voiced continued strong support
for the Preserve First policy, which says that 90% of roads
and bridges should be in good condition before the system
is expanded.
"The
Governor has shown her willingness to stand behind the principle
of the Preserve First policy by carefully considering infrastructure
decisions and focusing resources on the investments we've
already made," says Conan Smith, Land Programs Director
at the Michigan Environmental Council. "Projects that
are smart investments in existing roads should move forward,
while those projects that simply extend the system beyond
our capacity to maintain it will be put on the back burner.
The important thing, and what makes Preserve First different,
is that we're now looking at the big picture and making these
choices with an eye toward the future."
Studies
have proven that more roads will not relieve traffic congestion
in the long run. The Environmental Council acknowledges that,
while most of the communities could be better served by exploring
alternatives to more roads, several of the projects in question
had progressed far enough in planning and development to warrant
consideration and reinstatement.
