FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5A
Lettersaid trafficway ruling
By Lindsey Hodel
hodel@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Decision makers in the fate of the South Lawrence Trafficway are asking for feedback in approving construction of the highway through the Haskell-Baker Wetlands.
The late of the location of the South Lawrence Trafficway still rests with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is sending letters to 150 interest groups. The purpose of the letters is to gather information about how a 32nd Street alignment would affect historic sites in the area, namely, Haskell Indian Nations University and the wetlands, said Bob Smith, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project manager.
The 32nd Street alignment proposal from Kansas Department of Transportation has met opposition from the Haskell community and environmental advocates. The Corps is also considering an alternative 42nd Street route going south of the Wakarusa and around the wetlands.
"What we found was that building along the 32nd Street alignment with a buffer wall would be less noisy than a 42nd Street alignment." Smith said.
He said with a 42nd Street alignment, Louisiana Street and Haskell Avenue would still become main traffic arteries because of the growing population. Eventually they'd have to be converted to four-lane roads anyway, Smith said. He said the roads would create more disturbance for Haskell University and the wetlands than the eventual construction of the highway along 32nd Street.
The Corps also recommended moving portions of Haskell Avenue and Louisiana Street to make room for replacement wetlands the transportation department promised to build.
Kansas' state historic preservation society received the Corps' letter yesterday, and will decide whether the Corps' proposal effectively protects the historical sites, said Will Banks, state historic preservation society archaeologist.
He said the preservation society
would probably agree on the disturbance caused by the 52nd Street alignment but would not comment on its opinion of the Corps' corrective measures.
Robin Crawford, Topeka senior, sympathizes with the Native American land issues at stake, but sees benefits in constructing the highway.
"It would be nice for traffic, especially with the Home Depot and Best Buy opening on 31st Street," she said.
Even though no official decision has been made, Brett Ramby, Lawrence senior, was disappointed by the recommendations from the Corps. He said he thought the Corps did not take into account the ecological damage that the potential highway could cause.
"This is a final straw for me. The wetlands are the most significant natural area within the whole region," he said.
The Corps plans to make a final decision on the alignment of the highway by the end of this year.
— Edited by Melissa Shuman
Sebelius review faces criticism
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — Governor-elect Kathleen Sebelius' top-to-bottom review of state government began this week with the public still on the outside, unable to look in.
That's despite statements from one of Sebellius' review team leaders that his proceedings would be open to the public.
Sen. David Adkins, R-Leawood, had said a meeting of his public safety team on Wednesday
at the Kansas State Historical Society would be open.
However, when reporters tried get into the meeting they were turned away by team member Randy Rathbun, a former U.S. attorney for Kansas.
Adkins was in Wichita and participated in the Topeka meeting by teleconference. He didn't return several messages left by The Associated Press on his cell phone and at his law office.
Sebelius announced five review teams last week. Her
spokeswoman said the decision to close the discussions would not change until after Sebelius takes office on Jan. 13.
"We really consider the individual meetings part of the transition process," said spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran-Basso. "We want discussions to be as frank and open as possible. These are not policy making or decision making groups."
The teams would continue to meet following Sebelius' Jan. 13 inauguration.
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