Being Involved

(I am moving this from a response to a letter so it doesn't get buried too fast!)

I try and try to be involved. As I am able, I attend meetings and I consistently check the appropriate websites for agendas and minutes (which is often a waste of time). My biggest concern and feeling of helplessness right now involves the East Bypass.

The pain the West Bypass is causing is crushing to see.

The East Bypass is pointless, as all it does is connect Clayton County to East Fayette quite conveniently; all the while, tearing up beautiful farmland, wetland, and forests instead of using existing roads. I recognize I don’t have all the information for future plans, but I simply can’t see a plus to this. It would open up even more commercial and residential development that is neither necessary nor wanted on this side of town. It would only serve to merge Clayton and Fayette, literally.

From http://www.fayettecountyga.gov/
news_archives/08jan/PIOH%20-%20Public%20Notice%20Ad.pdf

This Project proposes to widen existing roadway and construct new roadway to create a 4 lane, divided roadway, with a 24’ wide raised median with curb & gutter. Phase I of the project will begin at the intersection of South Jeff Davis Drive and proceed north along the existing alignment of County Line Road. At the approximate location of County Line Court, the proposed alignment will veer easterly and continue north across new alignment. The new alignment will continue north across McDonough Road and the Flint River to the southern end
of existing Corinth Road. The alignment will follow the existing alignment of Corinth Road north and west to the intersection of SR 54, with this point being the northern end of Phase I. Phase II will begin at the intersection of SR 54 and Corinth Road and following the existing alignment of Corinth Road north and west to the intersection with SR 85, with this point being the northern end of Phase II.

From the Fayette County SPLOST site: (there is a good picture that won't transfer to this blog)

Project: East Fayetteville Bypass
Description: Four Lane Roadway to Provide Alternate Travel Route, East of Fayetteville, as Necessary to Improve Congestion and Safety Along the Highway 85 Corridor.
Status: Study and Design Phase
Cost: $61,600,000.00 (ARC Estimate)
Funding: Fayette County SPLOST Program
Federal Funds

Ideally, I don't want it. If I HAVE to have it, I don't want it tearing up our green spaces. Existing roads can be used for less money.

I have no idea what I can do about it. When I have talked to the GADOT and the commissioners, they nod and agree and shoo me away. It is demoralizing. I am an intelligent and highly educated person and communicate clearly. However, I don't at all feel like I have any say in these plans or any respect from those in the know, as I don't own any businesses nor have enough money to take each commissioner to lunch and dinner and woo them into paying attention. What do you suggest (besides a torch carrying mob) to stop this East Bypass before it gets to a point where everyone says ‘TOO LATE!”

ZoeS

"Never love anything that can't love you back."

Hey zoes,

Submitted by Cyclist on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 5:40am.

I tried to post your link but the address is incorrect.
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Thanks Cyclist

Submitted by zoes on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 12:07pm.

I knew you would jump in and try to clean things up! I cut and paste the link from the address bar, so I blame the Fayette County website. Anyone sincerely interested can look it up. I did.

"Never love anything that can't love you back."

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Sorry zoes ... you won't like what I have to say

Submitted by The Crime Dog on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 9:10pm.

I've watched a ton of local politics in my day.

Your best chance to stop the road would have been to get people elected to the board of commissioners to do just that. Even then it would've been a long shot.

Once such things are "programmed" as the transportation folks say, they never go away.

I agree it's shameful to cut swaths of asphalt through the countryside. We can only *hope* they don't go commercial.

After all, the main reason for these bypass roads is to MOVE traffic, not to slow it down by giving folks tons of places to turn into (i.e. shopping). If the commission changes zoning to allow stuff like that, I'd say we should drag them around the bypasses chained to the back of those pickup trucks they like to park at the old courthouse during election time.

It's sad that Fayette is losing more of its country charm. However, we and our neighboring counties are continuing to grow and clog our roads, and we have a TON of Fayette people needing to get into Atlanta and beyond every day for work. If we stick our heads in the sand, we'll choke on the traffic.

Maybe someone else on here has a better idea zoes, and I wish I did. My heart goes out to you.

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Crime Dog

Submitted by zoes on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 12:29pm.

Thank you for your comments, input and kind words.

I know that I don't know much about government and SPLOST and all those things. How do I interest the people who do know and are able to force attention to the matter? As I said, I am not surprised if the road can't be stopped, but can't it be built on a more reasonable path and for much less money and damage? That seems a reasonable request to me and certainly worth doing.

Zoe

"Never love anything that can't love you back."

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