| 240 |
I
for one am entirely in support of this project. This extention will put
the hospitals and universities closer (in driving time) to my home and
relieve the burden of Lake Otis and Tudor. This has been needed for 20
years the money is avaialble now. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE build the road.
Thanks |
| 241 |
Please
make sure you add a wide bike lane in both directions when you build this
road. NOT just an adjacent bike path but a bike lane in the roadway. This
will encourage commuting by bike and increase safety for road cyclists
wanting to ride south and/or east to get in the mountains or down to the
Seward highway. Presently about the only option for that is Lake Otis
and you take your life in your hands there on a road bike. Thanx |
| 242 |
I
think its very unwise and foolish to have the 84th abbott loop area extension
where it is right now. We have far to many accidents here as a resident
who lives here. I mean I even had a car fly infront of my frontyard and
crash into one of our trees. There was also a few crashes at the corner
behind 84th. I mean if you lived here you would see grade school children
walk across the street now they want to make it a highway? What kindof
idea of safety is that? We take efficiency over children's safety? I find
that very displeasing in alot of ways. There are other good arguments
about nature and such however safety is a huge issue. I mean we already
have alot of accidents here bringing the road closer to us will not only
endanger us but the children at the school right across. Also with such
expanison around here its hard to find a quiet place to live here. As
much as traffic can be a problem. Are we going to throw safety out the
window for that? I hope such plans are reconsidered and rethought before
they carry though with this. |
| 243 |
In
addition to being a resident of the Abbott Loop community I am a user
of its commercial facilities as well as its recreational facilities. Outside
of my 40-hour a week job in downtown Anchorage I spend more than 85% of
my personal time in the Abbott Loop area. I am representative of the group
of people whose comments and concerns should be given great weight. My
concers of this project and the areas which I believe should be given
great weight in the development of this project are: traffic congestion
in the Abbott Loop area as a result of the road development noise safety
environmental impact decreasing impact of development on existing private
property. While that was a general statement of my concerns of this project
I would like to voice my specific concerns as they relate to my equestrian
activities. I board my horse at the F Bar J stables located at Abbott
Loop and Lore Road. Equestrians are not the only group that utilize the
recreational site to the east of Abbott Loop Road; however the equestrian
user group is one of the only user groups that is limited in choices of
recreational facilities -- that limit being placed on us to Use Far North
Bicentennial Par and other Abbott-area facilities. It is imperative that
a safe crossing at Abbott Loop and Lore Road is afforded us and other
user groups crossing Abbott Loop to ensure continued access to the trails
in the park. Signal crossings are not sufficient for this purpose. While
a tunnel under the road may suffice I question whether the environmental
impact of a tunnel under the road would be as acceptable as a bridge at
the Abbott Loop/Lore Road intersection. These comments may lead you to
believe that I am in favor of this project. That is not true. I am a member
of the group that is opposed to this project. The Abbott Loop and Lower
Hillside area is rural and it is my belief that the residents of those
areas wish them to remain along that vein. I believe there are other alternative
that should be explored to relieve the perceived congestion from South
Anchorage to the midtown/downtown area. I say perceived because the reality
is that generally speaking you can get from one end of Anchorage to the
other either North/South or East/West in under 45 minutes. My commute
from Abbott Loop to downtown at the peak of a.m. or p.m. rush hour is
no more than 30 minutes. That being said I think other alternatives that
might be explored include widening the New Seward Highway. |
| 244 |
IThe
Abbott Loop Extension is long overdue. The only draw back that I see is
that it should be extended North to connect with Norther Lights Blvd.
This would have the effect of disbursing traffic over a wider range of
roads in order to lessen the impact on Tudor Road. It should however help
alleviate the traffic on the new Seward Highway which should also be expanded.
|
| 245 |
1.
I disagree with the extension of Abbott Loop and believe existing corridors
should be upgraded to meet traffic volumes. 2. If the P&N is to relieve
congestion at Lake Otis & Tudor what other alternatives for that intersection
were examined? 3. If it reduces Tudor voulumes by 15% this project represents
temporary relief for 5 years before the facility is back to volumes that
is has today. In 2010 Lake Otis/Tudor intersection will still require
a grade separation and the new Abbott Loop intersection will interfere
with the design. 4. New facility lane miles further stretch minimal State
maintenance funds. 5. Anchorage should not have the mindset that the grid
needs to be connected at the expense of valuable parkland. Park land is
Anchorages' legacy and every effort should be made to avoid it. 6. If
constructed this project will certainly lead to an effort to extend it
through the University which is another adverse impact. 7. Wetland water
table and wildlife impacts are too severe for mitigation. |
| 246 |
A
major concern is that Jupiter will be used as an alternate route when
the traffic is backed up at the light on Abbott and Abbott loop. I don't
have a solution other than to dead end Jupiter at Mars but that would
be really inconvenient for Zodiak Manor residents. Another concern is
access and egress for the ball fields...turn lanes and maybe even a traffic
light may be needed there. I would also suggest that some of the proposed
feeders from the subdivisions to the west of the project NOT be added.
I think there will be a lot more use of this road than is projected...it
will become the main route for anyone on the upper hillside heading north.
Forcing some of the traffic to Lake Otis would not be a bad thing. |
| 247 |
I
am strongly in favor of the proposed extension. I am a 30 year resident
of Anchorage and hike and cross-country ski in the Park. A am an avid
wildlife advocate. Properly done a corridor will not disturbe the wildlife
which can cross under the road at creek bridges (If high enough) and by
walk-over bridges such as used in Jasper National Park in Canada. |
| 248 |
As
a resident of College Gate who often drives to mid-town one of my greatest
frustrations is the awful traffic jam at Tudor & Lake Otis. It is
simply unbelievable that a small town the size of Anchorage has such a
congested intersection. When I lived in Dallas I regularly commuted through
one of the 10 worst intersections in America as rated by a large insurance
company. But believe me the traffic jams at that intersection in Dallas
didn't hold a candle to the absolute mess that is Tudor and Lake Otis.
The situation at Tudor & Lake Otis is simply intolerable. The Bragaw
Extension should have been built 20 years ago around the time the Minnesota
extension was built. For whatever reason it was not and we have had to
suffer the consequences ever since. Some have argued that the Bragaw Extension
will do violence to the moose geese fish and natural habitat. I disagree.
anyone who has lived in Anchorage for more than a month knows there is
no paved street or major artery in this town that can impede wildlife
or diminish natural habitat. The City of Anchorage is safest cushiest
place in the State to be for wildlife. Building one more arterial is not
going to change that fact. What is so hard to understand? Moose cross
roads. Birds walk or fly over roads. Fish swim under roads. Plants grow
on the sides of roads. Microbes fungus and insects are ubiquitous--they
don't know or care if a road is there. Please just get on with it and
build the Bragaw Extension. The wildlife won't know or care but the rest
of us who have to deal with Tudor & Lake Otis on a regular basis will
be relieved of one of the great frustrations in our lives. |
| 249 |
This
extension is not necessarily the solution to congestion at Lk Otis/Tudor.
A Tudor underpass at Lake Otis will remove most of the problem impact
the neighborhoods less and cost about the same. If the project goes through
(Bragaw extension) I am ADAMANTLY opposed to allowing ANY business development
on the right of way. Anchorage has a terrible track record of allowing
developers to put anything anywhere; DO NOT allow the existing single
parkland (Bicentennial plus Campbell) to be separated and then nibbled
away to nothing! It has already begun with the ballfields. I can already
hear the developers salivating over this piece of real estate. If this
extension goes ahead I believe the next step will be to extend Bragaw
from Northern Lights to Tudor. This will eat another big piece of parkland.
Where does this pave-the-world thinking end? Mass transportation and alternate
forms of commuting will remove the same number of cars from the road that
these extensions will support. I commute on my bike year-round and I know
it can be done. The trails connecting Tozier Track and Bicentennial Park
must remain accessible. Please include this in your overpass studies.
Lastly this extension will destroy the #1 historically coldest place in
Anchorage; the low spot in the park. It will be sad to see that gone.
Are we sure we want to go there with this city's planning? |
| 250 |
1.
I looked at the drawings in the Service High cafeteria last evening (Jan.
5) and saw no plans for any pedestrian access. I read most of this website
(I could not plow through all of the comments) and under Scope I saw no
provisions for pedestrian crossings. It seems logical to me that some
safe pedestrian access somewhere between 80th and 84th to the ballfields
and trails is a minimum necessity if we want to keep from killing someone
especially in the dark of winter. See comment 18 ; I agree with it. 2.
I and anyone who drove through th Lake Otis/Tudor intersection 30 years
ago knew that this was a problem intersection that would only get worse
and worse with time. A 15% reduction in peak traffic is not going to make
that much difference but the political die has been cast. 3. This project
is going to create problems downstream like on Abbott Rd as people use
Abbott Loop to try to bypass Lake Otis/Tudor. Think new pressure to upgrade
Abbott more and extend it south. Have you ever tried to get onto Abbott
when Service High gets out? Think traffic jams with the added volume.
Think more traffic lights to enable people to get onto (and off) Abbott
and Abbott Loop. |
| 251 |
I
think the extension is in dire need and ... obviously doesn't do much
driving around Anchorage to say it would be a dead end. It would relieve
a tremendous amount of congestion. As far as the environmental impact
goes I think the planners will do a fine job creating the least amount
of impact. As far as where you live Mr. .... What have you got to say
about the foundation your house sits on? I suppose a few trees had to
be cut down to gain access to your driveway as well. I hardley think a
TGIF will adorn any of this land possibly Eagle River but that's another
project. I say Go For It. |
| 252 |
I
been here for more then twenty years and watch Anchorage grow. Yes there
are more vehicles on the road. And yet more to come. Anchorage is losing
growing space. If you look at Anchorage twenty year ago we were happy
to expand. Expand is good for business. Also if Tudor and Lake Otis have
an vehicle accident tying up traffic on Lake Otis. The only way south
is going to the New Seward Highway or the Old Seward Highway to go south
of Anchorage. We move out of BIG cities only to see this city growing.
Let her grow. We can't see everything. |
| 253 |
1)
the new section of the road beginning at 48th throught to 68th. It was
mentioned last night that this section of the road may fall under MOA
management (and I assume ownership). If this is true the state should
realize that the MAO has different road design standards than the state.
i.e. during the presentation Stuart show a slide that depicted a cross
section of the new portion of the road. The driving lanes were shown as
10 feet wide. I believe the MOA requires new roads under their management
to have 12 foot wide driving surfaces. This may create a problem. What
I'm not sure about if the 12' wide is needed for opposing traffic and
10' may be appropriate for travel in the same direction. Slide also showed
a shoulder of 0-4' This is way to narrow essentially you have no breakdown
lane. At a minimum the shoulder should be 6' wide. 2) Alternative B &
D appeared to have the same approximate cost. It that realistic alternative
D only calls for spot improvements from 68th to Abbott Road and alternative
B calls for a totally rewoking of that section of road widening to 3 lanes
and possibly relocating the road further east. 3) During the previous
public meeting it was brought to DOWL's attention that the road project
itself did not recieve a 67% approval rate the state bond package got
that voter approval rate. DOWL was asked to correct that misinformation
but I see it reappeared again as a major talking point at last nights
meeting. If you want to used the 67% figure please don't misrepresent
the facts. Simply say this project was included in the statewide bond
proposition (include the year?) and the bond proposition received a 67%
voter approval rate and let it go at that. |
| 254 |
1)
This web page is inadequate. None of the alternatives are presented here.
Why not? 2) The meeting page simply gives you a list of people who attend
meetings not the times and dates of the meetings. 3) To date this plan
has failed to address: a) Noise pollution for the affected people living
along the road. Would you want a four-lane express way put in your front
yard with no noise control? Well I don't either. b) Emissions from vehicles
and particulate. Does anyone plan on controlling it? Measuring it? c)
Lighting. One of the reasons that I bought a house where I did was so
that I would not have street lights glaring in my windows at night. So
I propose that special lighting be required taht not disturb surrounding
areas. d) Crime. More people more trails more baseball fields = more opportunity
for crime. Who is going to address this issue. How are you going to address
it? e) My property values. My once cherished view of the mountians will
now become a view of street lamps and highway. Do I get reimbursed for
this loss? After all when I purchased my home I was told that I was bordering
a greenbelt. Now I get to live next to an expressway. Will the State declare
eminente domain and pay me fair market value for my home (before the highway)?
In closing if this must go through...so be it. However I think those of
us affected greatly by this project deserve some consideration that includes
noise control pollution control lighting control and an opportunity to
have the State purchase our now devalued houses at market value before
this thing came in. Fair is fair and I should not have to have my quality
of life lessened so someone else can have theirs improved. So please for
those of us who are going to be within 1000 feet of this thing give us
some respect and let us have some choices so we can have the quality of
life we desire as well. |
| 255 |
My
backyard is a adjacent to Abbott Loop. The reason for moving to this area
is because it is quiet (little traffic) and less developed (encourages
outdoor activities in Campbell Tract). I am not opposed to punching Abbott
Loop through but would like to see the traffic controlled by reducing
the speed limit to 35mph in the current residential areas. I am very concerned
with plans for keeping traffic noise to a minimum. I would have bought
a house off of Lake Otis Abbott or O'Malley if I wanted to listen to traffic
all day. Reducing the speed limit would allow traffic to flow as planned
minimize traffic noise promote safe driving and provide safe crossings
across Abbott Loop for moose lynx coyotes pets and people (yes all have
been spotted crossing Abbott Loop road in the past 2 years). With the
new ballparks there will be more young kids and family pets in close proximity
to the road. Reduced speed limits would maintain a residential community
similar to the one located at the end of Lake Otis (i.e. Westwind Dr).
|
| 256 |
Definitions
from the New World Dictionary: City: A center of population more important
than a town or village. Wilderness: An uncultivated uninhabited region.
Homosapien: Modern man mankind human being. I believe it is time we start
paying more attention to the homosapiens. Our lakes and streams are polluted
with duck and goose droppings to the point that our kids cannot swim in
them without being infected with the related parasites. Moose are trampling
and killing our citizens on our campuses and roads. Geese are causing
aircraft accidents and deaths. Bears are invading our backyards. Believe
me I get as excited as any when I see a wild animal in our neighborhood.
However I also realize that I do not have to go too far to see these wild
animals in a true wilderness setting. I have been here for over 40 years
and know that no matter how many roads we build or how many conveniences
we provide to the citizens (city) of Anchorage we will always have wild
animals in our midst. If an approved and needed road project like the
Bragaw extension is within the City limits there should be no need for
further discussion! JUST DO IT !!!! |
| 257 |
1.
I have not heard any comments/suggestions about educating people to use
Dowling to head west from Lake Otis. This millions of dollar project was
meant to help traffic in some way but its recommended use seems to be
ignored. The media should report on this aspect as an alternative to turning
west on Tudor from Lake Otis. 2. The Abbott loop extension just puts more
traffic on Tudor. If there was an overpass/underpass at Lake Otis and
Tudor I could understand that the Abbot extension might help the Hillside
residents. But if there is still a stop light at LO &T the traffic
backup will be tremendous. It already backs up at Bragaw/Tudor now; traffic
turning west from Abbott Loop/Bragaw would even make the backup worse.
3. I have an architect friend who suggested to me to make a tunnel under
Tudor. There could be entry/exits at Bonniface Bragaw (for UAA and Prov
Hosp) Lake Otis New Seward and C streets. The lanes could be reversable
- 3 lanes running west in the morning and 3 lanes running east in the
afternoon. The upper area of Tudor would be used for local traffic/business
access. I think this is an excellent idea. When I head west I usually
exit Tudor at C street. Having a straight shot from the Boniface area
would be wonderful. There would be no wetland problems because there is
already a road corridor; no bridges over salmon streams would have to
be built. The tunnel even could have a toll to help pay for it like bridges
in other cities. (People would be spending the money they waste in gas
waiting in stopped traffic. $.25 would seem reasonable). 4. Hillside residents
who live near the following steets(DeArmoun Huffman O'malley Abbott) should
be using these roads for access to the New Seward Highway not Lake Otis.
5. I did not vote for this statewide road proposal because of the Abbott
extension. I use the Hillside trail systems in summer and winter. To lose
this wilderness would be a tragedy to the current and future residents
of Anchorage. |
| 258 |
I
would be very supportive of this project if it was a TRUE parkway. Where
I grew up on the East Coast parkways were a delight to drive and there
were very large buffers between them and the residential neighborhoods
they went through (Example: Merritt Parkway Connecticut - you could not
even SEE the opposing lanes from the lane you were driviing in). And best
of all trucks were not allowed on parkways only passenger vehicles. What
Anchorage calls a parkway is a joke or rather a disaster. Lake Otis should
be renamed Lake Otis Speedway or Lake Otis Crashway - it is a very dangerous
road and isn't getting any better. Boniface Parkway is another one - what
an ugly road!! I would hate to see the rural Abbott Loop community destroyed
by the typical Anchorage road. Build a REAL parkway and I think more people
would welcome this project. Build a parallel Lake Otis and the neighborhood
is doomed. Build it right do your best to preserve the parkland this road
must go through and respect the residents on both side of the road who
have chosen to live there for the rural qualities. Or don't do it at all
(there is a no-build solution right?) |
| 259 |
I
would like to see a buffer where feasible for the homes located on Abbott
Loop that will be affected. Use the State land to build the road and put
up some beautification (trees etc.) between the road and the houses. |
