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Aren't there other economic development initiatives that would be more cost-effective at creating jobs than building this $53.5 million/mile road? Yes, that's $1.5 billion (baseline cost-not adjusted for cost overruns) for the 28 mile stretch!

The same crowd that OKd the "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska are the ones that are behind I-66. Based on the estimated traffic volume, there may be more traffic per million dollars on that Alaska bridge than on I-66. Our Congressman is demonstrating that he can waste money in the same league as our President -- I-66 can only divert traffic from KY-80 at 1000 times the cost. It reminds me of the farm that had two windmills. There wasn't enough wind for two, so they took one down. We don't have enough traffic on KY 80, so we'd better build a superhighway! There's already a little-used parkway between Somerset and I-65, so we sure do need another one! I-66 is an example of fraud, waste, and abuse. The fraud is the claim that the new Interstate is needed for safety and for existing traffic. The waste is more than a billion dollars of our tax money for I-66 by a government that is $9 trillion in debt. The abuse is the insult that people are so stupid as to want a new road when the ones we have are deteriorating. I-66 is like Iraq -- it will employ a lot of people, run us out of money, keep contractors getting rich for years, and inflate the ego of the Congressman who got us into this extravagant mess. It's a monument to stupidity and profligacy, not a patriotic duty. Most Kentuckians know better.

There are so many reasons why I-66 should NOT be built, it is hard to decide where to start. Let me just touch upon the major ones here. The environmental impacts of I-66 would make it the most destructiveman-made project ever built, slicing and dicing through KY's vanishingbeautiful mountain landscape and what is left of our most pristine areas that are worth preserving. Then there is the money issue...with a projected $9 trillion national debt looming over our nation by the end of the Bush administration, there are no funds available for such a project where the need is highly questionable. Should we just borrow the money for this project from China and Japan like much of the rest of our debt? Kentucky surely cannot afford to build it with state funds.Then we must consider our crumbling infrastructure that has suffered from years of neglect. It would seem to me that the prudent and feasible thing to do would be to fix what we have. Everytime I cross a bridge in KY I wonder if it is going to collapse under me. With the structural deficient rating on more than half of our bridges, that is not an unreasonable concern. The current interstate system roadways are in dire need of maintenance. As that most appropriate Sheryl Crow verse says, "It is not getting what you want, but wanting what you've got." I-66 is another clear example of economic development's narrow focus on developing "Things" as opposed to developing "People" I for one, am sick of paying all those KREDA type taxes that go ONLY to Corporate Welfare & BIG business. The "If we build it they will come" mentality is the dinosaur that is stuck in the past. Time to get out of the Stone Age and be part of the future for change! How many businesses after receiving taxpayer largesse pack up & go somewhere else once the well dries up? How many scholarships would this afford to the deserving achiever? Its time for our economic development dollars be for the benefit of ALL the people and not just the select few. Investigate where all those millions have gone and see if there is any monkey business going on. Sounds a lot like Ted Stevens in Alaska...and now he is being investigated for corruption. U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers has funneled nearly $90 million in federal funds toward a proposed interstate highway in Kentucky that likely will never cross the state, much less stretch beyond its borders.Despite the substantial expenditure of funds, not a single shovelful of dirt has been turned on Interstate 66, conceived nearly two decades ago as a coast-to-coast corridor that would run through Southern Kentucky. Since then, it has been abandoned by every other state as unnecessary or too expensive. Bias? Looks to me like I66 is getting service equal to the Ohio Riverbridges - tons of many, a few decades, and squat for results. This is a no-brainer. Simply wait for voters to approve casino gambling. Then, design I-66 (new song: "Place Your Bets on Route 66") so that in Kentucky, all casinos, except the ones bequeathed to the Holy of Holies, i.e. Churchill Downs, et cetera, be within 1 mile of I-66! Why, the traffic flow will be astounding as citizens from all over America drive on the new road trip icon (especially those with Corvettes) so they can hit those casinos! The state revenue money from the casinos (roughly estimated as being between $400 million and Eight Gazillion dollars per year) would pay off the Kentucky portion in no time. Then, the continuing influx of gambling dollars, after the cut taken by the gambling outfits, could be used to improve our education system. After all, those casinos will need dealers, porters, pit bosses, stickmen, croupiers, show girls. The list goes on ad nauseum. Yes, I think the benefits of I-66 are being ignored by our progressive state leaders. Believe me, anyone who thinks casinos are a good bet for our state should love I-66. The ONLY reason to pursue this folly is the kickbacks he is lining up for himself from contractors. This highway isnt even close to being needed. Yet another example of a corrupt politicians wasting the publics money on pure crap! A road to no where. Sounds like Ky. politics as usual. How about we re-name KY80 as I66 and save a few million $$$. What a sham. Hal Rodgers should be ashamed, or is he so morally bankrupt that he doesn't care that he's stealing taxpayers' money right out of their wallets? Glad to see the C-J has noticed what Rogers, who for reasons now obvious did not challenge Patton's second term, has been up to in Pike County. The story, however, failed to examine who, exactly, has received the $90 million Rogers has spent on plans for I-66. There are people in Pike County, for example, who know without looking -- the same old hogs who have been feeding at the public trough for decades. If Hal really wants to leave a legacy besides the Taj MaHal in Somerset -- a money-burner which exists only because it feeds Rogers' considerable ego and houses government offices -- he should turn his highly paid Unite troops loose on corruption in the state Transportation Cabinet and follow the money. Looking hard at Rogers, who paves parking lots with federal funds for his buddies, and his devotion to I-66 is a good start. How much of this $90 million, for example, passes through his bank? Now which of Rogers' campaign contributors are going to benefit from this. I can only assume there are many to benefit, otherwise he'd neverhave pushed for this for so long. Typical Eastern Kentucky politician, always greasing the good ole boy wheels. If I may use a little hyperbole, they're all crooks. Hal Rogers is so out of touch with what is really happening, it's scary! It's not his money being wasted, so he does'nt care. His only concern is to appear to be getting things done for his district, regardless of whether it's needed, and at the tax payers expense. Old school politicians like him need to be voted out before they cost us any more than they already have. I-66 goes beyond being just a local issue and becomes a national one when we think about prioritizing our transportation spending and getting the best value for our tax dollars. Rolling Stone has named Hal Rogers “One of the 10 WORST Congressmen" and "Bin Laden’s Best Friend” and National Review calls Hal a "congressional disgrace." Hal says that what’s wrong with bringing an interstate to one of “the most impoverished” areas in the region? What’s that? London has record LOW UNEMPLOYMENT! It would sure begreat to get one of those “High-paying manufacturing jobs" earning $50-$60,000 a year though. Too bad they’ve all moved out of this country to cheaper wages elsewhere in the world. And if interstates lifted so many out of poverty why are there no appreciable downturns in the poverty level since I-75 was built? It sickens me to see the beautiful hills that have been bulldozed right here in London down to 25 in Corbin & up 75 to Livingston then west on 27 in Somerset. Raping and pillaging the land in the name of “economic development” will not help the average poor person lift themselves out of poverty. Cutting the trees & Bulldozing the mountains brings economic development to the FEW while affecting the health of the MANY. How many MORE poor Kentuckians already stricken with 20% disability will be afflicted with increased respiratory and other health-related problems from breathing in all the dirt these bulldozers are kicking up and then from the increased exposure to vehicle emissions when they build I-66? Doesn’t ANYONE even question how you can’t eat fish anymore? Let’s just keep polluting the water! Flooding got you stranded? Let’s just continue to remove all the trees that help to filter & drain the water and then cover it all with asphalt that creates impervious surfaces allowing runoff to pollute the ground & water. Songbirds in decline could be the canaries in the coalmine. The air & water quality continues to deteriorate making many species sicker & eliminating others. DON”T WE CARE? I would love to see satellite images of Kentucky now compared to images 10 years ago. Is it possible to have reached the saturation point? I hope London’s Heritage Center includes lots of pictures of our area in the past, not just the people but the beautiful forests that are no longer here. Because there’s way more to heritage than the people. Yes let’s be sure to include lots of pictures of the beautiful land as it used to be to show our kids that was our heritage before economic development came and bulldozed it to smithereens. And why are the localChambers of Commerce so keen on the idea of I-66 when it will take away travelers through their vibrant downtown districts and relocate, rather than bring in new businesses only creating further blight & sprawl? What will be the return on all the investment to our downtown districts when I-66 will bypass them? Tourism dollars are reported to be at an all time high in this region, but will they still come if we build it? And build and build…? Will tourists still want to come to a place that has been heavily bulldozed & paved over? They could stay home to see that! Oh but we want a MALL, we want SHOPPING! Retailers are seeing a 30% increase in online sales & are cutting back building more brick & mortar stores. All I know is I’ve searched for certain items locally to no avail but ended up finding exactly what I was looking for online! Shopping will not bring tourists here like the beautiful surroundings will. Will I-66 be magic? I hardly think so! As many of you probably know, the Daniel Boone Parkway was renamed the Hal Rogers Parkway. So, if I-66 should ever be approved (and weirder things have happened) and it has to cut through the Daniel Boone National Forest, then Hal can have its named changed to the Hal Rogers National Forest. After all, I'm sure more Americans recognize the name "Hal Rogers" than "Daniel Boone". Building roads and dams enriches a few: primarily the engineering and construction firms. These folks enrich the politicians through campaign contributions. Sadly, the property owners don't get much for their land being taken and despoiled. Why do things get done this way? Expediency. It's easier for a politician like Hal Rogers to secure money for projects like I-66 than it is to tackle the real issues confronting much of our state. He can go to his voters and boast about the millions in road money he's secured. He can then gloss over issues like unemployment, pollution, inadequate health care, the staggering national debt, the impending crises in Social Security and Medicare, etc., etc. How do he and his ilk get away with this? He votes for their worthless projects and they vote for his. Together, they oppose campaign finance reform and they mutually agree not to confront the real issues. The huge war chests amassed by Rogers and Sen. McConnell deter serious challengers. When only 40% of us bother to vote, the Rogers and McConnells of the world know they need only energize 21% of us to stay in power. The problem isn't Hal Rogers. The REAL problem is the 60% who don't vote and parts of the other 40% who keep a blatant criminal in office. You want out of poverty? Start by voting out the criminals. Kentucky is well known for spending road money where the fewest vehicles exist. Meanwhile, populated areas have traffic congestion and delays that just get worse every year. Look at Nicholasville Rd in Lexington, I-64 in Louisville, and numerous roads in Northern KY. Other states moving ahead of us spend road money where it does the best---on the basis of the number of vehicles that will use the road in the future. I would love to see who is benefiting from the money earmarked for this project and who is funding the congressman's campaigns. I've been to Pulaski County via the Cumberland Parkway and thought it was a pretty typical Kentucky county. They have Lake Cumberland, which most counties don't have. What else do they need? This is part of the NAU super highway. It is part of the big plan to merge us with Mexico and Canada. There is our real concern. This is an "interstate" that would only connect Pikeville, KY with Paducah, KY. Neither WV or Missouri nor anyone else in the union wants anything to do with it. There are perfectly capable, under-capacity, lightly used highways and parkways throughout the eastern and southern parts of the state that connect to I-75 and I-65. These were mentioned in the article. I don't know if you've ever traveled anywhere outside of Louisville (some of my own sarcasm), but waiting 20 seconds at a redlight in Somerset is much different than waiting for 30 minutes in Spaghetti Junction in downtown Louisville. Louisvillians should be PO'd this money hasn't been used to start building the east end bridge. great. another attempt to destroy the outdoor opportunities available to kentuckians. you can't go hiking anywhere in this state without crossing a road shortly thereafter. we have one national park and it is underground. we do have the daniel boone national forest (that is about all) and here is an attempt to further damage that. has anyone on here attempted to walk the shelltowee trace? it is almost a mythical (non-existant) trail that runs through daniel boone national forest. Itis in bad condition and poorly maintained. unless everyone is going to get rich and buy a ton of private land, we better start protecting public land. it is there for all of us. once we destroy it with interestates we won't be able to hike, camp, hunt, or explore... but at least we can drive through it at 70 mph. seriously, kentucky is a beautiful state. daniel boone national forest is a beautiful subset of the state and probably one of the most important regions we should protect. This is ridiculous. They don't have money to build a light rail here, or even improve the inefficient mass transit system here (if you couldcall it that), but they have money for an interstate that nobody will use and that other states don't want?!? Nobody likes going to Eastern Kentucky, which is probably why they didn't build an interstate there to begin with!!! (Except 64) This is the epitome of backwards thinking,or even more sinister yet, special interest projects. I'll be so happy when we rid ourselves of the "bubba" mentality and start making decisions for our future that will actually be for the common good, and not for a select few politicians. God save Kentucky! The DBNF is like Heaven on Earth or the Garden of Eden! The place is magic! We are just a few miles (as the Crow flies) from the Wild & Scenic Rockcastle River & every Spring parts of the Sinking Creek flows through our yard heading down to the Rockcastle. Cane Creek, Hawk Creek, Buck Creek, Pine Creek, Short Creek, Laurel Lake, Woods Creek Lake & the Sinking Valley all are close by. At any given time you can look out in the yard & see up to 50 (and more!) birds flying around our feeders & the fields & woods. What a beautiful place this is! Audubon Society recently issued a 2007 State of the Birds report about Common Birds in Decline. Birds like Eastern Meadowlark, Bobwhite, even common Sparrows & Whip-poor-wills are seriously threatened by our reckless disregard for our natural areas: http://stateofthebirds.audubon.org/cbid/ The National Forest Protection Alliance names the DBNF an Endangered Forest from road building here: http://www.forestadvocate.org/endangered/forests/boone.html And the National Resources Defense Council in their 1999 report "End of the Road. The Adverse Ecological Impacts of Roads and Logging: A Compilation of Independently Reviewed Research" presents yet another case against road building here: http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/roads/eotrinx.asp Rampant clear cutting goes on in both DBNF areas & HUGE SWATHS of private property locally. Timber/Mining = BIG $$$ for the big guys. If we could be good stewards of the land and replant/replace the habitat loss maybe there might be a fighting chance for some species. But its hard visualize any mitigation when you see so much destruction of vital habitat exploding everywhere. All in the name of the almighty dollar! There even could be many more species yet undiscovered living here in this part of the Rockcastle watershed area. They could be extirpated and we will never know. People say, so what about a few bats? Its People that are more important! But its the Land, "God's Creation" that came before us and hopefully will remain long after we're gone. What is to be our legacy?

1. The project is pure pork at a time when we are $9 trillion in debt, and KY-80 can handily handle all the traffic for the next 50 years. 2. Another crossing of the Rockcastle wild and scenic River is indefensible and illegal according to current KY law. 3. Anouncing a preferred route does nothing to assure that karst features will not be spoiled. Archaeological and historical studies need to be done and a practical mitigation plan developed for each karst feature. General assertion that they will avoid, minimize, or mitigate karst issues are not believable. 4. The large number of proposed new interchanges -- all without any zoning or environmental control -- means more pollution and straight pipes from interchange developments. Are the individuals who have bought up the land and development rights at these proposed intersections on the take? 5. I'm opposed to the whole project and have heard or read nothing yet to tell me they have been listening.

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Yes roads CAN bring economic development, but the following things need to ALREADY be in place: Educated Workforce Infrastructure including telecommunications, sewers, water, safe secondary roads, better schools, international airport, etc., etc. From a Clemson University study: "Unless a community already has some growth underway, it is unlikely that new highways will do much to trigger growth. Improvement in schools, investments in water and sewer upgrades, and attention to such things as race relations, protection of historic landmarks, and other quality of life factors may pay bigger dividends for such communities than new highways. Only after those things are done and the signs of local job and income growth begin to appear does it make much sense to shift the focus to developmental highways." Highway officials & politicians say how every $1 spent on interstates returns $5 in ED but where is the data to back that statement up??? They don't tell you that!! Its just projections, show us the data. So I-75 came through London, why are there MORE people below the poverty level than before? 20% of our residents are on disability. Where is the willing/educated workforce? Factories are moving overseas to get cheap labor. There are over 200 industrial parks in KY all with vacancies and all are competing for these jobs. London is lucky to have the bakeries, automotive companies & service industries. Some of these businesses are expanding. But where is the ABC Company that was supposed to occupy the Ind. Park Spec bldg? Where is the Home Depot? There's speculation that SAMS Club may come. These businesses are here already. I-66 did not attract them. And I-66 will not make their shipping costs go down, so what is the benefit to business? Factories have left Laurel County too, did they leave because there is no I-66? Its personal to us because we live in DBNF & will make every effort to protect it. We care about the threat of global warming and do not care to make more people sick from increased car exhaust & pollution from runoff. We care about protecting not destroying the environment. We care about the watershed and the caves of Sinking Valley, the Cumberland & the Rockcastle. Maybe we weren't born here but we live here now. And we're gonna stay. The DBNF is a NATIONAL TREASURE. Its bigger than the wants of some individuals. And as a person of faith (maybe not yours...) I guess I care about being a steward for the environment more than you do. So is this I-66 segment gonna be the "TRASH" Highway? Because its going straight to Laurel Ridge Landfill. Is this what we want our town to be known for?? Our great Landfill? Bring your trash to London, trash capitol of KY! The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line. Going from Somerset to London via 80 makes sense to me. I-66 takes people away from London. If I-66 is built, it is most likely that the economic development will shift away from 80 & downtown London to the interstate area. Will it save me anything if they build I-66? I don't think my car insurance rates will go down any and I also don't think it will make driving any safer. Its still gonna cost big bucks to fill our gas tanks! Driver education and vehicle inspections are what is needed if we want safer roads. It also won't lessen impaired drivers, a threat to us all. So exactly what are the PROVABLE benefits of I-66? To me there are more benefits to NOT building it than there are TO build it. Some things you can't put a price tag on, like the environment. Let's tell our representatives to spend our tax dollars on health care, education and job training for this county's citizens, not a road which will provide some short term jobs for construction workers and big profits for contractors & land speculators. Looking to make some big $$$ selling your property for I-66? Good luck getting assessed value for your property and can you replace what you already have? Good Luck! Finally, The Sierra Club has named I-66 in the top ten worst transportation projects in their "Smart Chioces Less Traffic" study. The NRDC and Taxpayers for Common Sense have also submitted reports naming Kentucky's I-66 in the top 10 worst road building choices. Are these scientists and other experts wrong????

I read Mr. Brugger's article with keen interest. I am interested in both the environmental and economic aspects of this proposed project. As a person interested in the economic realities of the proposed project, perhaps he could encourage the individual who indicated a fairly optimistic 600% plus return on investment on construction and operation of the proposed highway to break down those gains on a line-item basis and detail who receives what portion of the gains which are realized. Certainly, those who own properties adjacent to highway interchanges stand to realize substantial profits from sales of these properties (bought cheaply in the past) in the future. Then there will be the proposed development of those properties. It would be of great interest to know to whom those properties belong to currently and compare this against a list of Rep. Roger's campaign contributors past and present, and those who have ties to the local and county political power structures. Here in the Delaware River Basin where I live, there has been a prolonged effort to dredge the Delaware River from the ocean to Philadelphia and perhaps beyond. An initial economic study by the US Army Corps of Engineers suggested that there would be a certain necessary level of economic benefit for every dollar spent on the project - a necessary return on expenditure to justify the project.  Subsequent analysis by environmental groups forced a re-analysis of this rosy economic picture by the USACE and resulted in a substantial restating of the return in expenditure in the downward direction - such that the project was no longer viable from an economic basis...Perhaps this sort of re-evaluation should begin with this project. A crucial initial study performed by the University of Kentucky during the 1990's examined the premises of economic benefits and viability of the project. The first report was suppressed and the purported negative outcomes were never allowed to be examined by the public. Who caused this and why. Would this have resulted in the scrapping of the project at that point in time?? Secondly, there was a rather large acrimonious public debate which took place in the US House of Representatives between Rep. Rogers and Rep. Baesler during the 1990's as to where the path of the proposed project would be blazed. Rep. Baesler proposed use of existing I-64. Rep. Rogers used his position and political power to squash this idea and write into the early legislation the highway corridor which is currently being investigated. Perhaps former Rep. Baesler would be interested in elaborating on this discussion and why the current route was chosen despite being less than 50 miles north in many places from existing interstate I-40 to the south and Interstate I-64 to the north.  This sort of interstate highway density is not warranted by the population it purports to serve or it's apparent lack of connectivity and destinations. Interestingly, the economic analyst who promoted the passage of proposed I-66 through London seemingly failed to mention that the passage of I-75 (a major North-South interstate) has not provided the London/Corbin area with major economic benefits. What basis is being used to suggest that a second interstate will be any better? The tourist areas of the Lake Cumberland, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and Daniel Boone National Forest are adequately served by the exiting highway systems present. There is little evidence that the proposed highway segments approved or planned will lift those people and areas impacted by poverty out of their current state. Some of this problem is geography. The Environmental Impact Statement for the Pikeville segment suggested this in it's economic analysis when it discussed the lack of available suitable lands upon which to build factories or other employment-generating industries and businesses - much of this related to topography. However, given the progression of mountain-top removals for strip-mining purposes, this may be lack of suitable topography is changing. Additionally, I find it unlikely that the true costs of habitat and species destruction during construction and operation of the proposed project have been adequately calculated, nor the potentials for serious soil, groundwater, and surface water impacts in the event of a release of hazardous materials from a truck travelling along this proposed highway. Perhaps harkening back to the spill of hydrofluoric acid from a tanker in the Berea area which resulted in serious large scale contamination and environmental impacts to the area about the spill and closure of the highway for what I recall was multiple weeks and millions of dollars spent have not been considered. The potentials for environmental damages from the release of a chlorinated solvent, such as TCE, in the karst are immense. Clay liners and other containments have little to no effect in retarding these types of materials from their migration into the sources of many people's domestic water supplies from wells. In addition, these contaminants are among the most long-lived as source material and breakdown products.  Not only would there be immediate environmental consequences for such a spill on a local and regional aquifer scale, but this material would be transported long distances in the karst aquifer system and would also linger deep in the fractured limestones in which the karst is developed. Then there is the chronic contamination which would only be magnified by an increase of traffic through the area. This comes from the tiny amounts of soot, oil, grease, rubber and metals which all of our vehicles leave behind as they drive through an area.  Bowling Green has seen the impacts to karst from the effects of these materials being washed off their highways and into Bypass Cave. A masters thesis on this matter is on file at the WKU library if you are interested. These sorts of materials will also be washed off the proposed highway segment into the karst with no treatment possible short of collecting all the dust and run-off rain water and sending it all to a central wastewater treatment plant for proper treatment and disposal... Of course all this ends up as contaminated sediment and water going to Lake Cumberland. This comes from the karst systems providing transport of the waters and contaminants from the highways segment on the karst to the springs which feed many of the area's rivers and streams - such as the Rockcastle River and Buck Creek. Public meetings by the KTC have already indicated the identification of one unique (not rare, not endangered, but unique to science - rarer than rare) specie during the course of the karst environmental investigation. Potentially there are other rare and endangered species present which would suffer irrepairable damage from short and long term effects from the construction and operation of this proposed project. Both Buck Creek and the Rockcastle river are very important to the sensitive aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems present in the areas under consideration.  A HAZMAT spill in the karst would be potentially devastating to the surface streams in the area.  These stream and rivers and their surroundings are home to many endangered species. The KTC has failed to justify the sufficiency or effectiveness of their karst investigation past those karst features which are physically identifiable from the surface. Many karst systems have little or no surface expression. The most sensitive technologies such as seismic imaging, microgravitytraverses and grids, or 3-D resistivity traverses and grids have not been used to identify karst which has no surface expression either as a programmatic element of the karst investigation or in any meaningful extent in the proposed highway corridor. In addition, no justification has been made by the KTC or the FHWA as to why these technologies are not being employed to determine whether these hidden features exist. These criticisms were communicated the the KTC during the public comment period following their November 2004 public meeting, with no response from the KTC despite repeated prompting for such during the past 15 months. Their initial response was that they were not required to respond within any certain time frame. They have since failed to even acknowledge repeated attempts at communication. The KTC has contended that no study of completely water filled and inaccessible karst features was necessary - to which I respond how does one know until one performs the investigation. There are wider implications to this highway construction boom in the Somerset Kentucky area. Two additional bypass segments are being planned or built at this writing. Both cross substantial karst, but the Southwestern Bypass crosses karst ranging from highly dissected margin karst to sinkhole plain karst and proposes to connect to the Northern Bypass, which was potentially illegally segmented from the London to Somerset Segment. Both the Northern and Southwestern Bypasses were allowed environmental approval through the application of Environmental Assessments, rather than an Environmental Impact Statement. Poorly publicized and potentially closed door meetings by Federal and State Agencies determined that these two individual segments required the much less stringent Environmental Assessment. But, tellingly, the combined segments of bypass are greater in length than the proposed segment length of the London to Somerset Segment. Additionally, there is substantially more karst present in these two segments than in the whole proposed London to Somerset segment. The Southwestern Bypass EA is terribly deficient with respect to an adequate karst biologic and hydrologic investigation. Once the two segments were proposed to intersect, no additional discussion was carried out to determine whether an EIS was now neccesary for the combined greater segment. An argument has been made that the Southwestern Bypass was in the works long before the Northern Bypass and that they are separate projects with separate pots of money. However, they physically connect and are greater in length as a combined whole than the segment that is having an EIS performed. It begs a few questions which may never be answered given the powerful combination of politics and powerful state agencies already shown to have corruption problems locally and statewide.   Fact: The EA document for the Northern Bypass suggests that it was studied as a stand-alone Somerset Bypass segment, but would be integrated into the proposed London to Somerset I-66 segment if the EIS was approved. Fact: The Southwestern Bypass Environmental Assessment was quickly and quietly re-written with a new route alternative in order to connect to the proposed Northern Bypass with little opportunity for either public hearings or debates following the announcement of the proposed Northern Bypass. Fact: The KTC District 8 office "lost" my technical commentary on the deficiencies of the Southwestern Bypass EA which would have to be responded to for purposes of a Finding Of No Significant Impact or Record of Decision regarding the lack of sufficient data regarding the karst in the suddenly revised selected route alternative of the southwestern Bypass.   The District supposedly withdrew and resubmitted their official correspondence transcript to reflect the re-inclusion of the criticism which I sent. They sent me an apology e-mail (how often does this happen?)which I believe i still retain and indicated that since I sent the commentary directly to the KTC Dist 8 project manager and not his administrative liason (Cathi Blair), that the PM forgot to get it into the official transcript. Reading the finding or record of decision later, it was not apparent that the comments ever made it to the appropriate personnel for response. One of them specifically pointed out the lack of karst hydrologic and biologic research proportional to the amount of karst present. Another pointed out that since the project was being funded with federal money, that if water could be proven to flow into Lake Cumberland (a federal flood control impoundment) from the karst, that the water within and the karst itself would possibly be subject to the much more stringent provisions and application of the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act, rather than Kentucky's rather laxly enforced groundwater rules and regulations. This was never addressed such that I could determine. This same criticism was leveled at the Northern Bypass EA and was never addressed.... This criticism has it's roots in eastern US water law.... I'm not a NEPA attorney, but I think this has sound basis for further questioning. The argument that the two segments connect as a greater whole and that the two EAs were released for public commentary on the same date has spawned little environmental interest from the legal standpoint, yet should be investigated. Prior court cases have determined that highway subdivision and segmentation in order to minimize potential negative environmental impact conclusion outcomes which might cause the project to be cancelled are illegal. However this challenge has not been raised yet. This leads to yet another interesting paradox. A political and non-profit set of foundations have been established to promote the construction and operation of I-66. These groups appear to be well-funded and organized. They compete against a small group of environmental activists and concerned citizens who have little to no funding and often work as individuals in their concerns and objections to the proposed highway projects. Yet one more concern follows this discussion. The current state of the National Environmental Policy Act, its guidelines, rules, regulations and laws makes it so complex that the ordinary un-funded citizen group cannot mount any substantial challenge to conclusions in enormous documents like an EIS or even smaller documents like an EA without expensive legal representation.  Yet the governmental agencies charged with performing these studies have the benefit of knowledgeable legal staff who do nothing but work on NEPA and Endangered  Species Act issues. They do so with funding from our tax dollars, while those who object to the project do not. These experienced legal staff are often challenged to justify the legality of a certain action or determination. This can take the form of nullification or obfuscation of the objections of the citizens who take the time to make their voice heard through arbitrary determinations as to whether or not the comment was presented in correct form or referenced the appropriate statute, law, or regulation - regardless of substantiative and appropriate content or inquiry. One often sees official response to objections which have environmental basis as "Irrelevant", because the objection was not state with appropriate reference to chapter and verse of the applicable statutes And then, there is the thorny subject of the mitigation of environmental impact which cannot be denied or written off, or buried in an appendix. An interesting example would be found in the Pikeville EIS. In the document, it was stated that in order to construct the highway along the proposed selected route alternative, that the only stream which contained rare and endangered species and which was unaffected by acid mine drainage or similar degradation was going to be impacted in order to construct the highway. Since this impact was recognized, a solution to deal with and prevent as much as possible this damage (called mitigation) was required. No solution was found to mitigate the damage to the stream at the point of impact or the effects which it would cause to the ecosystem downstream. You would think that this would mean that you have to back up and re-think whether or not the project should continue. You'd be wrong. The way the laws are written, since the impact couldn't be avoided where it was to take place, and the actions had to take place where they did or they couldn't accomplish the project, the route was not required to be modified to avoid the impact. Now one would think that if you can avoid the impact and it is significant and impacts rare and endangered species that you might have to say that there was a finding of significant impact and the no-build option would have to be chosen. You'd be wrong again.... Instead, mitigation is being proposed to be performed at a completely different, un-related location, to a stream poisoned by acid mine drainage and devoid of the endangered species which will be negatively impacted by the highway. Something is fundamentally wrong with this sort of solution. Partly this is because often, just like wetlands mitigation, the mitigation strategy fails to accomplish what is required by law and is poorly monitored and enforced. The impact to the endangered species occurs as planned anyway and thus money is spent to no benefit of the environment, but does benefit the companies which provide these sorts of services. Secondly, no amount of mitigation will bring back a species once its gone and if the fix fails and the impact occurs before the fix is proven to solve the problem. The emperor appears to have no clothes, but they are widely praised in the fashion magazines for their tailoring, cut and style. The photos bear this out. The NEPA system operates, but has been mutated through work-arounds, case law and lack of knowledgable representation for those who object to the actions being contemplated. The system is being used by the few to benefit the few and to the detriment of the relatively unspoiled and unique way of life and environmental surroundings of the people of southeastern Kentucky. Saying it benefits the many in any substantial way is inappropriate, and cannot be proven, while there are many cogent arguments to be made to the contrary; citing potentially irrepairable damage to landscape, environment, historic resources and lifestyle. And BTW in passing, I have driven the segment of existing I-66 from Washington DC to Front Royal VA... IMO All it is is a short cut to I-81. I find it ironic that those who first conceived of I-66 in ?Oklahoma or Kansas have abandoned the idea as economically unsound and unworkable, while Rep. Rogers has made it part of his re-election campaign. Sounds like an intelligent design if you ask me.   Mark Turner MS. PG Environmental Consultant Karst Specialist Life Member, National Speleological Society Wilmington, Delaware

Thanks to Jim Bruggers, award winning environmental reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal for his FRONT PAGE piece on I-66 2/26/06. In the same paper, there was an article on selling the DBNF and the BIOTERRISM LAB right here in Somerset-OH BOY! VOTERS WAKE UP! Small wonder the League of Conservation Voters rates ALL Kentucky legislators (except ONLY Ben Chandler who has a very  admirable 98%) at ZERO! Until we get some more conservation candidates I will be sure to vote for "NONE OF THE ABOVE"

Link to Louisville Courier-Journal, A Gannett Publication

Thank you Jim Bruggers for your report on I-66. I think it was a fair and balanced assessment. I would like to state my strong opposition to the proposed I-66 in KY. Back in the day of government surpluses, there was some talk by the US Government about having an interstate run from Fresno, CA to Washington, D.C. A $1 million Congressional feasibility study determined that Interstate 66 was not needed; the current interstate traffic grid already handled traffic needs sufficiently and it was not economically feasible because the highway construction costs exceeded the travel benefits. But thanks to the local politicians, who may or may not have any special interest in seeing our tax dollars go to this road (I suspect the former), and who managed to sneak in Congressional approval for the KY segment; our tax dollars (millions so far just on feasibility studies) have been appropriated for I-66 from Paducah to Pikeville. Existing east-west interstates I-64 and I-40 already handle traffic needs sufficiently. These east west interstates are only about 3 hours apart. I-66 would be built in the middle of the two existing east-west interstates. Officials say that $2.2 billion is to be spent on Appalachian transportation needs over the next five years, but the proposed Route 66 is estimated to cost a huge $5 billion (or more) for the 420 mile stretch of road. Now I’m no great mathematician, but that averages out to be a WHOPPING $12 million dollars (or more) per mile! Just the 43 mile stretch from Somerset to London alone is estimated to average $22 million/mile. Our illustrious leaders say that this road is needed, that it would bring Appalachia to the “front porch” of the nation. They go on to predict great economic benefits, increasing employment and earnings to the region. It may attract some businesses, are there any assurances from our leaders? If a few more gas stations and fast food places are built, will that benefit the local economy or just take business away from existing ones? I remember the man who cried because his son had to work two shifts at the Kroger-he wants good paying jobs to come here. Well if I-66 is built maybe he could work a third shift at the McDonalds, because that's all the business that it will attract - low paying minimum wage jobs. London is blessed to have attracted the baking and automotive industries. There are jobs for people who want to work. But with a 38% disability rate, and a high high school drop out rate, existing businesses have a hard time filling vacancies with qualified people. People currently traveling along other roads may take the new interstate, causing devastating losses to existing businesses along other roads and further contributing to unemployment and the blight and sprawl that is already so visible here. The money that is going to this new road is taking away from funds available for repairing/upgrading existing roads. Many people traveling along Route 80 & 75 and existing local roads agree with me that the state could better use some of that money to fix existing roads. These are "Killer Roads" with no shoulders or lines painted on them, some with culverts & ditches on both sides, not even wide enough for 2 cars to safely pass. These are the roads that locals travel every day, I-66 will not make these killer roads any safer, these roads will not be linked to I-66. In short, the money spent for this "Road to Nowhere" will not bring any rewards to us regular KY citizens. How will the "Poor Appalachia" communities described by the politicians benefit in any way? Consultants, land speculators and big contractors will make money, but I don’t believe it will benefit the average citizen. If the segment from Somerset to London is built through the Daniel Boone National Forest (our property, this land that belongs to all of us Americans), reports predict that it will cut the travel time from Somerset to London by about nine minutes (averaging 70 mph) and would be less than two miles shorter than the current Route 80. BUT, the report fails to mention that this limited access highway would only be accessible in certain locations, you will probably end up driving miles out of your way to get onto it. And you may well have to pay a toll. People NOT using the road may need to go around the highway, increasing their travel time. So exactly where are these savings? People who don’t own cars and people who do not drive highway speeds, like our senior citizens will certainly not benefit. What about the costs associated with the deforestation of the Daniel Boone National Forest? Or the risks involved in building atop the topography of this cave and karst abundant region? Who will pay for the probable contamination to our drinking water from the asphalt and runoff of pollutants? Who will pay for the sinkholes that inevitably will develop? Other losses which cannot be assigned a price tag are loss of the natural forest, endangered species, recreational areas, and degradation of the environment caused by the increase in noise and air pollution. Another argument has been made that the money has been appropriated for this road and if it is not used for this purpose, it must be given back to the Federal Government. During these dark days in our nation’s history, I personally would rather see this extra money going to fighting the War on Terrorism, educating our children, taking care of our Senior Citizens and our Men and Women in the Military and Katrina victims than building a road. Just imagine what a few extra billion dollars of our tax money could do to help areas with much higher priorities than this Interstate. And besides WHERE IS THE MONEY? Its not there!!!! Do you want your children, children's children etc. to pay for this? Another argument that has been made is WE WANT SHOPPING & RESTAURANTS! There are plenty of existing areas that could be developed along 80 and 192 in London. And you still have to drive to Richmond or Jellico if you want package goods. In this day of the internet, many more people are shopping online than ever, there is not such a need for traditional retailers. I call this area home because of its natural unspoiled beauty. That's what brought me here to Kentucky from Pennsylvania. I love the Daniel Boone National Forest, Cane Creek WMA, Laurel Lake, Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park, Cumberland Falls and the other local recreational areas. I am quite happy to travel Route 80, 75 & 25 to get where I need to go between Somerset, London & Corbin (a route which I travel daily). I just don’t think tourists will be any more drawn to the State Parks & Resorts just because of this new road. They’ll be whizzing through here at 70 mph and might blink and miss the signs! Why not just increase tourism advertising dollars, it would be much less costly and more effective way to attract tourists to the region. If the traffic increases will happen in the next 25 years, as predicted, let's improve existing KY roads! Most people are attracted to this area for the beautiful and scenic natural environment, NOT the sprawl and the new super-highway. In my opinion, "Industrial Development" ought to be renamed "Industrial Redevelopment" and attract existing and new businesses to the already developed vacant properties, rather than building new ones. Over 200 vacant industrial sites currently exist in Kentucky. All of them are looking for tenants. "If you build it they will come." Well where are they? Once the forest is bulldozed and paved, it can’t be brought back. Likewise, the existing roads in this state are perfectly adequate for getting from one side of the state to the other. So I ask you, my neighbors, do you want further sprawl or do you want to use/improve what is already here? Its time to STOP THE INSANITY! Caring citizens must stand up to “City Hall” and to those who stand to profit from this multi-billion dollar blunder. I think Hal Rogers just wants to cut his travel time to Washington DC. Voice your opinion! Maybe you, like me, care deeply but aren’t able to attend any of the public meetings and never saw a petition. Please visit www.kick66.org for more information and to voice your opinion which will be shared with the officials involved. Visit our website at www.kick66.org Email us at kick66org@yahoo.com Mail your comments to: P.O. Box 1133, London, KY 40743. Or write a Letters to the Editors. Speak out against I-66! I urge you to make your voice be heard!

I-66 - KICK 66 - THIS ISN'T CALIFORNIA! (click here to link)

I-66 - KICK 66 - A PLEA--NO  BUILD!! (click here to link)

I am in 7th grade and this year I have to do an editorial piece. I chose to do my editorial on I-66 because I have very strong feelings about the subject. Whenever I think of the goverenment tearing through our beautiful forest, streams, animal habitats and much more anger builds up in me. It hurts me to think of children in the future that have to live in a polluted town. I'm behind you all of the way and would like to say good job on the website. You're doing a great thing. Keep up the good work, A Very Bright Young Lady (name withheld), London Kentucky, South Laurel Middle School

WE ARE CURRENTLY UPDATING THIS PAGE--PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MORE!

My wife and I have a small farm here in Shopville, and have looked forward to retiring here, and enjoying our little place. I was just informed the highway will take our bottom and hay fields, and that will ruin our farm. I have been against this from day one. If I can help please let me know.

8/26/03 "We need an overall theme: The Baghdad Bypass: $14 billion dollars of Pork. While all of us have been focused on the conquest of Baghdad and the rebuilding of Iraq for $140 billion of our tax dollars, Mitch McConnell, Paul Patton, and Ron Lewis have found a way to build a four lane bypass around Baghdad through Kentucky. While KY's roads go to gravel and suffer from neglect, the politicians and contractors are quietly making a no-demand, no-traffic proposed road look like the peoples' choice. Who benefits from I-66? Politicians and contractors highjacking millions of dollars of profit from unbid contracts. Here's how they do it: They get bunches of ordinary people to look at fancy maps and diagrams. Just vote where you think the road should go, says the DOT. DON'T ASK WHY BUILD IT AT ALL (Yer outa order!) DON'T ASK HOW MUCH IT WILL COST (Yer outa order!) DON'T ASK WHY NOT FIX THE ROADS WE'VE GOT? (Yer outa order!) DON'T ASK WHY IS IT CUT INTO SMALL SEGMENTS LIKE SALAMI? (Yer outa order!) DON'T ASK HOW MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES AND DOWNTOWNS WILL GO BUST? (Yer outa order!) Think about it: If Sadaam wanted to bankrupt America, wouldn't he build a new four lane road accross Kentucky for $14 billion? America's DEBT is $6.4 trillion. Politicians want to raise that debt limit to more than $11 trillion. Who will pay for this road NOBODY needs? You, your children, your children's children, long after the road has turned to gravel like the rest of Kentucky's roads. Roger" Also don't forget -- we refer to the far eastern segment of I66 as "The Highway Paved With Gold" due to its high cost. Let us know what other names we can call the illegal segments!

- I-66 an unnecessary road My family has lived in Eastern Kentucky for almost 200 years. Lots of change in that time, especially in travel. The new roads built in the 1900s opened up the mountains and made trips shorter and easier. The roads eased a burden of isolation that prevented progress in education and jobs. Route 80 is just such a highway. The trip from Pikeville to Somerset now takes much less time and is widely used by personal autos and trucks loaded with coal and lumber. It has not eased the unemployment in the mountains and that region still lags the rest of the country. Now there is a proposal to build I-66 from the Kentucky border to Somerset. One of the stated objectives is to create jobs. Other than jobs for construction, there is no data that support this will happen. The existing highway is in place and would work, if it would be maintained adequately. For all those who complain about tax burdens by government, this is a chance to stop an unnecessary road, prevent damage to a unique area of our state, and force the politicians to focus on the real reasons why we still need jobs

Forgive me if this is a duplication and forgive me Joni Mitchell for the plagiarism: Don't It Aways Seem To Go That You Don't Know What You've Got 'Til It's Gone...They'd Like To Pave Paradise 'n Put Up I-66 (oooo, bop, bop, bop, bop....) BTW I've been collecting articles from local MO and IL newspapers if anyone is interested. Can't print them here or I'd be breaking some law. But to make a long story short, IL Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary David Phelps (and someone from Metropolis) have resurrected what was previously stone cold dead IL Govermment interest. After an open forum, public opinion was stated to be says 64 percent of 760 people recently polled supported the proposed Interstate's route across southern Illinois. Phelps added that 28 people said the interstate shouldn't be built at all and four were undecided.

- KTC CONTINUES TO BE INVOLVED IN SCANDALS-NEWEST IS THE HIRING SCANDAL- WORKERS VIEWING PORN-ROAD BUILDER'S ILLEGAL COAL MINING-NOW SOMERSET BYPASS RE-ROUTED OVER KTC WORKERS PROPERTY-OH YEA-FON'T FORGET THE MULTI- MILLION DOLLAR PALACE BUILT FOR THE KTC-WHEN A PERFECTLY GOOD BJILDING ALREADY EXISTED FOR THEM! THAT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT! EVEN THE RE-NAMING OF THE DANIEL BOONE PARKWAY-HARDLY THE PUBLIC WILL, RATHER, THE BROWN-NOSING TRANSPORTATION OFFICIAL'S DECISION TO STAY IN THE "TOO BIG FOR HIS BRITCHES" POLITICIAN'S GOOD GRACES AMIDST ALL THE TURMOIL AND SINKING, SINKING, SINKING IN THE DEEP MUCK HAPPENING NOW IN THE TRANSPORTATION CABINET-I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE REAL REASONS ARE EXPOSED FOR BUILDING I-66 (HINT-ITS NOT IMPROVING THE ECONOMY UNLESS YOU COUNT THE LAND SPECULATORS & ROAD BUILDERS AND THE FEW MINIMUM WAGE JOBS COMING OUR WAY-JOBS THAT WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM A WORKER IN TOWN WHEN THE BUSINESS CLOSES, OH YEA AND THE BIG MONEY DONATIONS TO THE POLITICIANS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT FROM THEIR BEST BUDDIES THE ROAD BUILDING CONTRACTORS, AND ITS NOT JUST TO SAVE 7 MINUTES OF DRIVING TIME FROM SOMERSET TO LONDON!)

12/15/03 In early November, Karyn Moskowitz, a nationally prominent resource economist/environmentalist presented her documentary, "Change is Inevitable, Highways Are Not" to many groups along the proposed I-66 route in Kentucky. The film documented four different Appalachian communities and how they have fought against road-building projects in their areas. This film has helped many to see the destruction that roads bring and what has worked for others, and what has not. On behalf of KICK 66, I would like to publicly thank Ms. Moskowitz for her generosity of devoting her time, expertise and efforts. There was a good turnout in many of these communities, especially in London. There are many citizens who are opposed to I-66, a road that would displace homes and families and bulldoze through the Daniel Boone National Forest, a boon to the local community for providing recreation to many outdoor enthusiasts, sportsmen and women, hunters, hikers, boaters, cavers, medicinal plant and mushroom gatherers and ORV'rs. Many tourism dollars come to local businesses from the DBNF. It is a local treasure that we all must fight to preserve. Many say, "There's LOTS of trees-so what if a few are cut down for a highway that will bring so many GREAT things to this region?" Well yes, there are a lot of trees. These trees provide a valuable service, removing carbon dioxide from the air, helping to clean and filter our water and prevent erosion and flooding. Most existing trees are young trees, as most of the "old growth" was clear cut in the early 1900's in the name of "progress." These trees also provide valuable habitat for thousands of other vital species, which could be exterminated by removing those trees. Think about this, is it possible that the pine beetle and other insect infestations might have happened because of destruction of their habitat, so they moved, en masse, elsewhere? KICK 66 is much bigger than a few locals here in London & Somerset. There are many state and national environmental protection groups that are behind us, The Sierra Club, Heartwood and the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) just to name a few. Prominent scientists, environmentalists and litigators are involved. KICK 66 groups have formed along the proposed route in Virginia, Kentucky and Illinois and Missouri. We need YOU to become involved. Some people think that I-66 is a "done deal," why bother? I-66 is a proposed road that is being studied, nothing more. Some people erroneously think that I-66 is the "magic bullet" that will bring those wished for high-paying manufacturing jobs. Unfortunately, people from all over this country who have lost their high-paying manufacturing jobs that moved to Mexico or India will tell you that it just won't happen. Jobs may come as a result of I-66, but to make ends meet, you will still have to work a double shift at the new Burger King (and other fast food joints/gas stations) that'll be built, because that is what the road will bring, a bunch of minimum wage jobs. Meanwhile, the Burger King (and other fast food joints/gas stations) in town will probably close as a result of travelers bypassing the I-75/80 intersection and the town of London. Heck, there may even be a new Kroger's to work at, but that might be tough what with all those new self-checkouts they're installing. Just think, those self-checkouts don't need health benefits, never take a sick day, can automatically calculate correct change and are always on the job, not gossiping with their co-workers! Finally, and probably most important, we need people from east of I-75 to become involved. I-66 was originally planned to be built on the eastern side first, from Daniel Boone/HR Pkwy, down to the weigh stations. The plans were changed due to anticipated local opposition because more people live on that eastern side. So the priority became Somerset/London, because there would be less opposition due to less population along that proposed route. Once Somerset/London I-66 becomes reality, well, they'll just HAVE to continue on the eastern side! Many say, "That's OK-I'll just move, can't stand in the way of progress." Is I-66 REALLY progress? Is that what "progress" is all about? More pavement creating impervious surfaces, causing runoff of pollutants and flooding. More minimum wage jobs so our kids will still have to leave home to find better paying jobs elsewhere? Even Lexington has experienced an outflux of people seeking better paying jobs in metropolitan areas and an influx of people working for lower pay (thus contributing less money to the local economy). Many people think they have hit the jackpot, the state will pay LOTS of money for my land. Think again, you will get appraised value and not a penny more. If your property is taken by eminent domain you'll be lucky to get that. Also any profits made on the sale of property taken by eminent domain is subject to Kentucky capital gains tax, be sure to hire a good accountant! Many say, "they're going to spend the money somewhere, better here than somewhere else." Those people just don't get it. THERE IS NO MONEY FOR I-66. Our gas taxes will have to be raised to pay for it. We already pay some .35 extra per gallon for federal and state taxes. How much extra would YOU be willing to pay for a gallon of gas to build I-66? The next London/Somerset KICK 66 meeting will be held at the Laurel County Public Library in London on Monday, December 8 at 6:00 p.m. Please join us in our efforts to stop this waste of our farms, families, funds, forests and future! If you can't attend but would like to comment or find out more, please visit the KICK 66 website at www.KICK66.org

Editorial Published in London Sentinel-Echo 8/25/03 Only one mystery remains Dear Editor: “Daniel Boone was a man, what a big man...,” went the song that introduced the successful television show and popularized the coonskin cap. “Hal Rogers was a man, what a big man.” The latter version is inaccurate because the symbolic meaning of the lyrics cannot be applied to Hal Rogers. Consequently, only one mystery remains about the travesty of reverence and common sense that resulted in the removal of Daniel Boone’s name from the Parkway. How did Hal Rogers lift his big head up on that bulldozer, a crane perhaps? That will remain a puzzle, but the travesty itself poses no such problem. The vast majority of today’s politicians are constantly pursued by groupie-like people eager to curry favor, to make Brownie points. Unfortunately, their sycophantic, brown-nosing behavior is effective, often to the detriment of the average American. Hal Rogers has been well paid for his service to Eastern Kentucky, not to mention the fancy, unnecessary perks that cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year, the health and pension plans that the average taxpayer can only dream about but never hope to achieve, thanks to self-serving politicians. There are some people, particularly those in the groupie category, who will defend Rogers, citing all the wonderful things he has done for Eastern Kentucky. I would remind them that Rogers would probably grade no better than average when compared with the other representatives in Congress with equivalent seniority. For example, take our $13 million that he single-handedly appropriated for the long-overdue purpose of removing the tollbooths. Make no mistake, while he was up on that bulldozer, $13 million were spent in eastern Texas, eastern California, eastern Washington, eastern Minnesota, eastern Maine, eastern Florida, eastern here, and eastern there. Get the picture? “You vote for my project and I’ll vote for yours.” It all boils down to swap-outs and trade-offs. The truth is, the vast majority of politicians walk in lockstep; thus creating a stupid, close-minded arrogance that promotes mediocrity and limits them to photo-ops and throwing their constituents an occasional crumb, just enough of a crumb to stave off starvation. And for that, they get highways named after them. Once upon a time, my job responsibilities too me to Washington three or four times a year to provide testimony to congressional committees, work with counterparts from other states, etc. I recall talking to a Representative, from another state, at the close of that fictional show on C-SPAN that our politicians pass off as debate. The hot item of business that day was the Omnibus Communications Bill. To refresh your memory, among other things that bill was supposed to reduce our cable television fees. What a joke! The Representative told me that the telephone calls and letters coming into his office were 7-1 against the bill. “I’m going to vote for it anyway,” he said. I was in no way surprised to hear that he was going to vote in lockstep, but I was surprised that he had admitted that to me. I figured he had either suffered a momentary loss of memory or he was feeling guilty about not doing the job that the voters in his district had elected him to do. He had to tell someone, and I was handy. I could present many other salient examples of the same conduct, but they would serve no worthwhile purpose here. Given the way Daniel Boone was removed from the Parkway, it is easy for me to imagine that a man of his caliber would not want his name associated with that Parkway any longer. I can see him respectfully declining the honor, and I would not blame him. The honor has now been watered down to nothing more than a warm fuzzy, a convenient way of scoring Brownie points. If that groupie bunch wanted to show their appreciation, they should have given Hal Rogers a teddy bear. It would have more accurately represented his contribution to the removal of the tollbooths. Yes, indeed, Daniel Boone was a big man, the foster son of Chief Blackfish who adopted him for his bravery, and a man who blazed a trail through the Cumberland Gap and established a settlement in Kentucky when our state was truly “a dark and bloody ground.” Compare that with the swirling hot tubs, the warm spas, and the stimulating massages that the pampered, over-perked members of the U.S. Congress must endure every day, then you can fairly judge the contributions of the two men in question. And what about the final resting place of Daniel Boone? What a smack in the face. He lays within yelling distance of that political circus that takes place in Frankfort. I would guess he spends a lot of nights tossing and turning, especially when the legislators come to town, and now they come to town once a year. Lord, help us all. Have you noticed the horizon lately? The dark storm clouds of additional taxation are gathering there. At the minimum, Daniel Boone should have been treated with the same deference as Buffalo Bill, whose only contribution to the West was the fact that he was a crack shot with a rifle. To get to his final resting place, you must follow a winding, picturesque road up to a mountain-top park, which features picnic tables, a museum, a gift show, a wonderful view, and the grave of Buffalo Bill. It would be so right if Daniel Boone was moved to the hilltop in Cumberland Gap that overlooks the Station Camp Creek area. If Hal Rogers is only half the legislator that his groupie bunch would have us believe, he should be able to pull that off with a single snap of his fingers. Consider what that would mean to Daniel Boone, Mr. Rogers, and also think about all those additional jobs that would be created. You might even get to cut another ribbon. Until big money stops flowing into politics, the laws that come out of Washington will continue to offend our common sense and reduce our net worth directly and indirectly. If by some trail-blazing miracle the money stopped someday, that would enable some real Daniel Boones to make their way into the U.S. Congress. Looking back over the years, I don’t know why I was ever surprised or disillusioned as I watched my heroes cut down, one by one; as I watched my idealistic bubbles busted, one by one. I should have anticipated those events, for I have known since childhood that Judas Iscariot sold out a Good Man for 30 pieces of sliver. The vast majority of politicians are doing the same thing this day, selling out good people. And in the process, another one of our true heroes has been blindsided with a cheap, irreverent punch.

- I live in Eastern Kentucky, in Prestonsburg to be exact. I see absolutely no need for this useless Interstate road project, especially since nobody west of Kentucky is going to join in anyway. Why would they? They already have a sufficient Interstate highway system. How will it help me for example? None at all! The problems we have in this area of the state are getting northwest to Lexington and west to I-75 (which now takes 2 hours from here). I think that if we have to build anything at all it should be to widen a 1-hour section of the Mountain Parkway from 2 lanes to 4 lanes, and make some adjustments to the Daniel Boone Parkway heading west. I don't see any need for a new road system that really doesn't help anyway!

AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THE PUBLIC MTGS. NOT CONNECTED W/THE KTC WERE OPPOSED TO I-66. WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT WILL LOSE THEIR FARMS, SOME IN FAMILY FOR 3 GENERATIONS! WE NEED OTHERS TO SPEAK OUT IN OPPOSITION TO I-66! PLEASE GET INVOLVED! EMAIL US WITH YOUR OPINION

- RE: INADEQUATE SECONDARY ROADS-A CAR WASHES OFF A LOW WATER BRIDGE KILLING A 6 YEAR OLD GIRL. ON RT. 312 IN CORBIN, A SCHOOL BUS SLIPS INTO A CULVERT INJURING SEVERAL CHILDREN. CARS SKIDDING ON WET CURVES-PEOPLE DYING-THE LIST GOES ON & ON. I-66 WILL NOT HELP THESE PEOPLE TRAVELING ON THE INADEQUATE SECONDARY ROADS. THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE SPENT ON IMPROVING THE ROADS WE CITIZENS TRAVEL ON ON A DAILY BASIS. THESE ROADS WITH NO PAVED SHOULDERS AND NO LINES PAINTED ON THE SIDES & IN THE MIDDLE. CHILDREN (AND OTHERS) RISK THEIR LIVES TO RIDE THEIR BIKES OR EVEN WALK AROUND IN THIS STATE! TRAVELED THE HAL ROGERS PKWY RECENTLY? WHAT A MESS!

The Somerset-London segment has been named a "Priority Road" by the Federal Government. This project was named from hundreds submitted from every state in the nation. If you have ever traveled from Somerset to London on Rt 80 you would agree that this superhighway is not needed and is a waste of our taxpayer dollars. How this project got elevated to "Priority" is a mystery to everyone! Another big concern is they are building superhighways to exit onto inadequate secondary roads. The secondary roads in most areas in this state are primitive. The officials claim that I-66 will make traveling safer but how can it if the increase in travelers this road may bring will exit onto inadequate secondary roads not capable of handling additional traffic? We support road improvements at the secondary level before building any new roads. The Somerset-London proposed segments will allegedly cross Rockcastle River at the present crossing of SR 80, but do we need an additional 6 lanes of traffic creating runoff pouring into the river and adjacent ground? Welcome your involvement, anything you can do to help us in our fight against I-66 is most appreciated. I reside in Northern Kentucky, Southgate to be specific, and am interested in helping your cause anyway I can. I have been coming to the Laurel County (Rockcastle River) area for almost 25 years, since I was 14 years of age. I would hate to see the forest region jeopardized in any way. I received your groups name from a gentleman who resides in the Sinking Creek area just outside of London. You might thank him if you know of him. I am part of a loosely knit group who have been coming to this forest for many years and we are concerned that this highway might destroy something that is so beautifully and uniquely Kentucky. Hoping we can help in any way.

"I would like for people to see the mess the core drillers did to my aunts farm in Somerset, Ky. It is awful and they didn't have to do that kind of damage to her farm land. I am going to video tape the damage and also make pictures of it in hopes that it can be used to fight against I 66 being built." "Core Drillers are the people that the state has contracted to drill holes in the land and get soil and rock samples. These pictures were just where they came in to survey the land, they didn't even drill there. They came in to put the flags up and tore the top soil off the hay fields and cut ruts in the field and they were going to drill down there and my aunt wouldn't let them because she let them drill on another piece of her farm and they tore up the land so bad that she made them fix it and she won't let them back on the other part. It sure messed up her pasture and hay fields. A video is also available."

Click here to view the damage the core drillers did

- We took the ride from London to Somerset today. For a Saturday, the road was relatively UNCROWDED, we might've seen a total of 30 cars the whole trip, until we got to Route 27, then I thought we'd hit mini-Lexington! Two Krogers a couple miles away from each other! That's economic development? And the "Center For Rural Development" WHAT AN OXYMORON! Driving home from Somerset we took Rt 192 & travelled through some of the the most beautiful countryside this side of Heaven. IT IS GOD"S COUNTRY through there. Makes you wonder what GOD thinks about building a major interstate through His land!

- "I don't think the politicians will be happy until they have paved over & developed every square inch of this state! How much money has to be wasted before they find out that spending more money for more Industrial Parks and infrastructure will be wasted. MAKE USE OF WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY GOT! At last count there are 207++ Industrial Parks in this state-ALL WITH VACANT UNUSED LOTS, BUILDINGS & SPEC BUILDINGS! I would love to see the study that tells us how much of OUR MONEY is tied up in these blunders. "If you build it they will come..." I don't think so, that was just a movie, NOT REAL LIFE!

I-66 BEING PUT ON FAST TRACK TO "STREAMLINE" THE BUILDING PROCESS-THAT'S NOT STREAMLINING-THAT'S STEAMROLLING! Good ole boy Hal & his pals Mitch & the Guv have managed to put the London-Somerset I-66 segment on the FEDERAL "PRIORITY" list. Doesn't the Federal Government have much more pressing needs to spend OUR TAX DOLLARS on?

"I think it is terrible to have a higway especially near Mammoth Cave National Park as I remember it back in 1959 when I visited there I can't imagine why they would want to ruin the beautiful forest and National Park lands for an old stupid highway. Must be some Democrat congressman with another stupid pork barrel project like some of the others that have been made that waste the tax payers money. A lot they care as they could be doing a lot for Medicare for us older folks and raise our Social Security so we can live like decent people instead of having to figure what we are going to have-prescription drugs or food."

"The State Government is going broke and we can't afford to keep criminals in jail. I hear that education is in danger because of a lack of money. But we can afford to build a major highway to nowhere. I hear that the road will bring great things to us, like jobs and all around prosperity. I just want to know if all this prosperity will come from Somerset. That's the only town that will be linked to London using 66 and it could be years before the rest of 66 is complete, if it is completed at all. I don't think our government should spend so much money on 66 and then let prisoners out of jail because we cant afford to keep them there."

- "I can't see how this road will help improve the local economy-it will by-pass London all together & this will hurt downtown & local businesses."

"I attended the meeting on 2/4/03. On the survey forms sent out by the KTC, the "NO BUILD" option was not listed so the respondents did not have the option to comment on NO BUILD. This resulted in skewed data saying that most or all respondents are in favor of this road & agree with the "Core Criteria" developed by the Citizens Committee. In the committee meetings, the leaders do state that the NO BUILD option is still on the table, but the participants are steered towards discussing the building of this road. Again the KTC is gathering more data to show that this road should be built. That's really what the citizens Committee is all about, they are nothing more than "puppets" for the KTC. If people really think this billion dollar road will attract tourists and improve the quality of their lives, they need to read the "Economically Justified" Report posted on this website to learn the real truth."

At least 50 local residents who will possibly be displaced by I-66 attended the KTCCC meeting tonight in London. Every single one of them (with one exception) are for the NO BUILD option. They don't want to move or destroy this area any further. The lone dissenter said, "That's OK, let 'em build, I'll sell them my land & move somewhere else." He was told to expect at least $25,000 per acre, nothing less & watch out for land speculators! Representatives of KY Heartwood, Sierra Club & Rt 66 protested with signs that read "KICK 66," "NO BUILD" and "FIGHT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT."

(We Need To Stop the).. Departments of Transportation and their environmentally, fiscally, and socially destructive road building agenda. The situation is the same in the various states around our region (and the rest of the country for that matter): horrendous road projects, with the various state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) at the helm. These agencies, with their political and corporate allies, are bent on paving over everything we love, and changing our lives forever. I feel very passionate about trying to stop these agencies from any more unwanted construction. Earlier this week, we all heard the announcement of the "preferred" alternative for I-69. This NAFTA highway, a gift to the intermodal transportation corporations and their allies in Congress, would (WON'T!) go straight through the heart of rural southern Indiana, my home. I think the timing is perfect to launch a new organizing effort, one that would stretch across states and include people around the region. Perhaps we can form a coalition, and get together to share strategies, stories, and insights on what has worked, what hasn't, how to organize, how to lobby, do open records requests, etc. To my knowledge, there has never been a broad coalition like this one, focused on fighting unwanted highways and roads. Let's do it! Many unwanted road projects are being put on a fast track by the Bush administration. I feel strongly that we need to act quickly.

Email us if this is something you would like to be a part of!

-The state is crying no money, they're letting prisoners out of the jails, they're cutting school's budgets & talking about raising taxes. Yet they got their pay raise last year and they can build this brand new super road that we don't need, along with the expo center in Pikeville-a place I wouldn't go even if they paid me! They should put this on the ballot, let the people decide if we want to spend an outrageous amount of our tax money for this road.Then they'll have to tell us what it'll REALLY end up costing!"

-"THE STATE IS CUTTING MY DISABILITY, BUT THE SENATORS VOTED THEMSELVES A 3% PAY RAISE THIS YEAR, THANKS FRANKFORT! I'LL REMEMBER THIS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WHEN I GO TO THE POLLS NEXT ELECTION DAY!"

1-6-03-"I have been interested in the I-66 thing. While I'm from Ohio, I have been going to Laurel Lake for over 20 yrs and am still amazed at the beauty of the place and the surrounding Daniel Boone Forest. I find it amazing that the politicians could get something like this passed in the legislature. I really don't see the need for it with existing roads in place. While traveling to Somerset on 80 last summer, I was almost the only one on the road so I really can't see why we need another interstate.

"I can't believe that more people aren't REALLY MAD about this wasteful project-they seem so apathetic!" "Yes, people are apathetic, but they won't be for long. Not after all of these environmental/economic problems start to mess up their personal lives."

"They're talking about budget cuts in our schools, how in the world can we afford to spend all that money on a road that isn't wanted or needed?" "I can't understand that if this road is supposed to cross the country from Fresno, CA to Washington, D.C., why it would go through south KY in the first place. Guaranteed all the tourists will speed through this state at 75 mph, and not stop til they get to Virginia! The other thing is that no other state is planning this road-they said it wasn't needed, even the Feds said it wasn't needed. Why is KY so adamant in building this road?"

-"I agree, I do not see any reason for this road. I am from the Chicago area where there is a road, an interstate, in every direction you can think of. I moved here partly because of the beauty and cleanliness of the area! I have not gone anywhere that I have thought, "gee I wish there was a different road cutting right through here!" If this road was needed or would benefit us in any way, I would say go for it, but that is not the case." -"My neighbor, its called Federal Pork Barrel spending. I am an Alabamian who lived in Somerset for 3 yrs from 1998-2001 and I traveled the 80 East corridor to London every week and Hwy 92 from Williamsburg to PineKnot every week as well. Everyone that ever came to visit me in that area always remarked how beautiful the natural surroundings were and I am here to tell you that Kentucky is one of the most beautiful states in America and I should know since I traveled extensively through south and central KY for several years. I have explored from Bowling Green to Campbellsville, Liberty, Russell Springs, Danville (awesome), Harrodsburg (awesome), Lancaster, Crab Orchard, Stanford, Nicholsville, Lexington, Richmond, Berea, London, Manchester, Corbin, Williamsburg and many more small hamlets I can no longer recall. In a word, Beautiful, relaxing and safe. I love KY and hope y'all fight anything that would change the way it is today." -"They should just use Route 80." - "They should just use Route 64." - "At this time when KY can't agree on a budget, revenue shortfalls are being predicted, this road is ludicrous." -"These are our tax dollars-people should be less complacent about this issue."

6/17/02 AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THE CC MTG. NOT CONNECTED W/THE CC WERE OPPOSED TO THE ROAD. EMAIL US WITH YOUR OPINION