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Thanks to all members of the public interested in the Abbott Loop Extension
Project. The comments are unedited except to remove personal information such
as the name of the person commenting. These comments were received via mail,
fax, email, at the public meeting held September 15, and telephone. Although
the comment period for the Scoping Summary Report ended October 15, 2003, we
will still accept comments after this date for the Environmental document. |
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| 260 |
This
project is way overdue. I like Option C as it is the one that appears
to best satisfy the project goals and requirements as established in the
bond and accomodates public input. Please consider putting up sound barrier
fencing like that used at the south end of C Street. Noise will be an
issue for 12 000 vehicles per day. If we anticipate that much traffic
in 10 years I feel we have an obligation to design build and maintain
the best roadway possible that maximizes the inconvience to local residents
while allowing all of Anchorage to enjoy the benefit of another North-South
arterial. PS Great job on conducting public input sessions. From awesome
signage directing us to the meeting hall down excellent graphics for us
to review and well controlled meeting environment where every one has
a chance to be heard you have done a first class job all around. Great
work! |
| 261 |
It's
impossible to travel to work from O'Malley to Muldoon for 20 years through
the Lake Otis/Tudor intersection and comprehend ANY basic city planning!
The clogged arteries must be identified & creatively remedied. We
have compassion for the few living on or near Abbott Lp. but greater concern
for public safety..... Let's get on with it!!! |
| 262 |
I
attended the Far North Bicentennial Park User Group meeting in early December
at the Campbell Creek Science Center and last week's meeting at Service
High School during which the Abbott Loop Extension was discussed. I want
to thank you for the information you and your associates presented and
for considering my comments about bike lanes. I know there are many people
who still oppose to this project. I have accepted that it will happen
and am concerned that it be done the best way possible.I'd like to put
into more detail my comments from last week, and discuss the speed limits
along Abbott Loop.As one of many bicycle commuters in Anchorage, I want
to express the importance of this connector as an excellent north-south
bicycle commuting opportunity. I'd like to first draw a distinction between
commuting and recreational bike riding. Bike commuters are usually seeking
out the quickest, safest route to and from either work or school or even
a grocery. They are traveling at higher rates of speed than recreational
riders.Most north-south routes in the Anchorage Bowl are in the form of
separated bike paths. On these paths, commuters may encounter runners,
parents pushing strollers, in-line skaters, kids on their way to school,
and many other trail users. Because bike paths have speed limits, and
the law states that we are supposed to dismount and walk through every
intersection when using paths, they are not ideal for commuting. I'll
admit that I don't get off my bike at each intersection. (If I were hit
by a vehicle while crossing on my bicycle, I would be at fault, not a
driver who did not stop at the "stop line.")Bike lanes are safer
for commuters because we can ride with traffic on the right side of the
road in a designated space. Commuters are less likely to be hit by cars
at intersections when on the roadway because we aren't hidden behind walls
(think Lake Otis and Abbott and a block north of that intersection) and
drivers are more likely to stop at an intersection than they are to stop
before passing through a crosswalk.If planners look at streets such as
68th Street, Baxter and Patterson, they'll see that bike lanes don't take
up much room and help the flow of traffic for automobiles, commuter bicyclists
and pedestrians. I hope that when this route is built connecting Abbott
Loop with Bragaw, there will be a bike lane on each side of the roadway
as well as a separated path for all the children using the ball fields,
for recreational riders getting to the trails in Far North Bicentennial
Park, and for others in the neighborhood.Finally, I'd like to address
the speed limit on the entire length of Abbott Loop Road. Many in the
neighborhood refer to the road as a "country-type" road, with
rural character. I drive the route and bike the route. I would suggest
that the speed limit on the existing portion be lowered to 35 mph. The
new portion could go back to 45 mph, keeping in mind that the ball fields
behind Animal Control will be up and running by then.I could go on, but
will stick to these two topics. I hope that you will seriously consider
my opinions. I realize that it could add to the cost, but if this project
is worth completing, it's worth it to do it |
| 263 |
Both
I and my spouse support the Abbott Loop extension project. We are residents
of East Anchorage who use the land between Tudor and Abbott a great deal
(skiing, Mt. biking etc...). Additionally, I grew up on the corner of
Abbott and Birch Roads. Having lived (literally) on both sides of this
discussion, I can say with conviction that that tie-in is needed to maintain
good traffic flow. This extension will help to alleviate a huge juggernaut
in our road system at the corner of Lake Otis and Tudor. I realize there
will be concessions made with regard to park land in the Campbell Tract
areas. However, I thing these concessions are a small price to pay. Thank
you for considering my comments. |
| 264 |
Phone
call: - Lives on E. 65th Avenue- Do we have any traffic counts between
64th and 68th Avenue?- Are we doing any noise impact studies? When will
they be available? - Will we be cul de sacing 64th-67th west of Abbott
Loop? |
| 265 |
Phone
call:- Lives in area of project- Concerned about $22 million for bridge/moose-
Should be built to 4 lanes from Abbott Road to Tudor, approves of project-
15 years in same house- Will improve neighborhood |
| 266 |
The
Abbott loop project will not relieve traffic congestion on LakeOtis and
Tudor. What it will do is the following. It will severly reduce the quality
of life for the residents. Owners on Abbott loop with well water will
have water quality problems from the runoff off the streets. It will increase
the crime in the area, this is because that instead of residents only,
it will now be a inter neighborhood street. Thus as cars travel in the
area that are not residents the opportunity for crime will increase. It
will increase the air pollution for the residents and noise pollution
as well. It will dramatically increase the moose/auto accident rate in
the city. All the moose in the area come from the parks and use the Abbott
loop road as a route to the residents homes in the area. It will reduce
the value of homes in the area as the quiet neighborhood atmosphere of
the area will no longer be. I think the voting issue is unfair, the residents
impacted by the road should only be the ones voting on it. A better alternative
would be to construct the road along the edge of BiCentennial Park. Connecting
the Glenn Highway North going South to perhaps Huffman and further connecting
with Seward Hwy South. Resident of Abbott loop and 67th ave. |
| 267 |
Thanks
for keeping everyone in the loop on the Abbott Loop project. My travel/work
schedule prevents me from attending the meetings, but I do want to provide
some input in this e-mail. I do not favor this road project nor do I believe
it will relieve traffic congestion on Tudor-Lake Otis or any other road
corridor in Anchorage. However, I know that I am in the minority.I urge
you to consider a two-lane rather than a four-lane road and I also urge
you to limit the speed to 35mph UNLESS you can insure that traffic will
not try to detour through surrounding neighborhoods to access this road.
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| 268 |
Comment,
as told by an Engineer at DOWL: ... heard a false rumor that we were proposing
a road design that wiped out the ball fields at the corner of 48th and
Bragaw. I told him that we had no such plans. I explained that the EAST
study showed a by-pass route that if implemented could have impacts on
the ball fields, but that our direction from ADOT does not include the
48th by-pass and that our design will facilitate a possible 48th signalized
intersection that would have minimal impacts to the ball field. I told
him we would let him know if there were any changes in scope. |
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