Congressman getting involved

[unhappy]

I wish St. Bernard would get more involved.  Our city government is just going to stand by and not do anything.

[bherrin]

It is so encouraging to see so many people from neighboring communities rally together in an effort to make the I-75 Thru the Valley project an opportunity, not an obstacle.  The neighboring communities that will be impacted by this FRWY project are passionate about their communities and individual neighborhoods inside these communities.  I applaud the leaders such and Mr. Savage that have taken an active role  in assuring that the progress being made on I-75 presents opportunity for re-birth of our communities and fights the possibility that closures will cut us off from ecomonic development. The Village of Lockland Council has been absent from all except 1 of the Thru the Valley implimentation commitee meetings (attendance record is available on the www.thruthevalley.com site) , and is the only local Council that has not been represented in the meetings Wyoming has held.  I question, if you have been elected to "serve" the people in your community, why are you absent on one of the most impactful issues to come our way for some time? 

[Dawn Longworth]

Also, as a reminder, there will be a Thru the Valley presentation at the April 18th HIA meeting.  The meeting is held at the Recreation Center on the corner of Vine & Galbraith at 7:30pm.  We will have a short order of business that evening so we can focus the concerns of the residents and any visitors from surrounding communities.  This matter will also be dicsussed by the HIA council at the March 21st meeting at the Recreation Center.  Hopefully we will be able to form a committee that night for Hartwell.  Please plan on attending.

[Dawn Longworth]

Hartwell is also in contact with Wyoming, ME companies, ODOT, & Steve Chabot.  As I mentioned at the Wyoming meeting I see the pros & cons for this for Hartwell.  I will support the decision my community decides on.  I personally see the traffic issues in Hartwell being my main focus, not convenience.  We will see on Tuesday which direction the community leads me.

[CarthagePrez]

From the Carthage Civic League:

At our 27 Feb 06 meeting, we passed a resolution to join with Hartwell and Wyoming in opposing the closure of the Galbraith Rd. exits.  Our primary concern was an increase in traffic on Paddock at Vine were it is already hairy enough at times.  I suspect that the Paddock interchange itself can handle the increase with minimal disruption, but moving west on Paddock everything narrows.

I have contacted Wyoming's City Manager and let him know our stance and that I would like to be notified of meetings.

This seems to be a loosing battle, but I've always rooted for Underdog.

[Valley Cat]

I got this from Steve Chabot's administrative assistant today.

I wanted to pass along a couple of letters that Cong. Chabot has written to ODOT and the FHA regarding the Thru the Valley project to improve I-75.  As you may know, one proposal put out by ODOT calls for the closing of the exit from northbound I-75 at Galbraith Road.  Another proposal calls for the closing of all four of the Galbraith Road exit and on ramps to/from Galbraith at I-75.

The City of Wyoming is very much opposed to this plan.  I believe many of the other communities in the area, including Reading, Lockland, Hartwell, and Arlington Heights also have concerns about how this might affect residents, businesses and congestion on side streets.

In response, Cong. Chabot has sent the two letters which I have pasted below.  He also followed-up the letter to ODOT with a call to Gordon Proctor, the Director of ODOT.  The conversation was positive and Mr. Proctor seemed willing to listen to the concerns of businesses and residents.

I also attended a meeting in Wyoming last week to discuss ways the community can work to save the exits.  Cong. Chabot then met with a member of the Wyoming City Council and the Reading Council this week to further discuss ways our office could help.

I'll keep you informed as the process continues.  Please let me know if you have any questions.



The Honorable J. Richard Capka
Deputy Administrator
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington DC 20590

Dear Deputy Administrator Capka,

I am writing regarding the federally funded redesign of Interstate 75 in Hamilton County, Ohio, referred to locally as the Thru the Valley Project.

Residents and businesses in the communities of Arlington Heights, Hartwell, Lockland,  Reading, Springfield Township and Wyoming will be adversely affected by the closure of the current left-hand northbound exit from I-75 at Galbraith Road.  State transportation engineers have indicated that because Federal Highway Administration (FHA) guidelines discourage left-hand exits, a federal waiver would be required in order to retain this exit at Galbraith Road.

Consistent with all applicable laws and regulations, I ask that you would please advise me of the means by which a waiver could be granted for the Galbraith Road exit so that access to these communities can be retained.  Local businesses and residents are hopeful that a waiver can be justified and that this vital exit can be retained without jeopardizing continued FHA funding for the Thru the Valley Project.  Also, please inform me if there are any other options, other than the waiver process, to maintain the left-hand exit at I-75 and Galbraith Road.

I have had positive conversations with the Ohio Department of Transportation regarding the need to maintain the left-hand exit and look forward to working with your office and state officials as this process moves forward. Thank you for your attention to this matter.  Please feel free to make this letter a part of any public record.

Sincerely,
Steve Chabot