DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

Transcribe
Translate

Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

Petition to re-route Highway 61 Page 1

We have signed the attached PETITIONS, and wish them to go on record as being a FORMAL COMPLAINT against the plans of the IOWA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION and the CITY of FORT MADISON, IOWA, to re-route U.S. HIGHWAY 61 through the city of fort madison. The reason being as follows:

1. At a time when one of the major problems all over the country, is "cutting down" on pollution, the Iowa Highway Comission and the City of Fort Madison are promoting a plan which will increase air pollution in the valley where we are located. Increased industralization of the area, has increased air pollution to an undesirable level. Re-location of an out-dated U.S. Highway, which carries a lot of North - South Traffic, will not aid in solving an already critical problem.

2. An accut parking problem already exists, in this community, and many old and established businesses along the proposed route, would be greatly hampered in their operational activities.

3. Safety should be a major factor in the planning of any Highway. To continue to rout the many large trucks which use U.S. 61 down the poorly graded Burlington Hill and into the sharp turn and dangerous intersection at Avenue H and 2nd street, is to display a total lack of regard for the value of the life of human beings.

3. It is illogical to build a four-lane Highway through a town which will "feed" traffic into a two lane Highway, on either side of town.

4. The corridor which has been chosen for the Highway relocation, was chosen because it is the so-called "cheapest" area of town. This situation exists, because of the socio-economic factirs which have prevailed and systematically denied many of he residents of this area the prvilege of living in other parts of the community. There are substandard homes in the area, but there are many that are decent by any standards. The worst homes are not all that are in the line of the corridor. Many of the home-owners, living in this area, are retired or semi-retired. Having worked hard to improve their homes and build new homes, they have contributed their "fair" share to this city. Housing which will be "comparable" and within the "means" of the people to be relocated, is not available, and will not be made so by the planned building of "Low-Rent" Housing or "Housing for the Elderly".

5. Taxpayers are going to have to shoulder more of an expense because of the relocation costs, for people living in the proposed corridor. The major portion of the burden will fall on the average worker, who is already overtaxed, in proportion to the tax bills of the more affluent.

6. Wem as taxpayers, are paying for the building of Highways. It is no pleasure to trace and have to stop making reasonable time because they have to drive through a town as long as Fort Madison. Enyon who does any amount of highway traling, is thankful for any By-Pass they encounter. The scenery of the relocation route will only add to the inconveience. A By-Pass to the north of Fort Madison, could provide a scenic view of this Mississippi river valley town, and perhaps entice people to stop, while a City route will only encourage travelers to get through this "bottleneck" as fast as possible.

Saving...

We have signed the attached PETITIONS, and wish them to go on record as being a FORMAL COMPLAINT against the plans of the IOWA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION and the CITY of FORT MADISON, IOWA, to re-route U.S. HIGHWAY 61 through the city of fort madison. The reason being as follows: 1. At a time when one of the major problems all over the country, is "cutting down" on pollution, the Iowa Highway Comission and the City of Fort Madison are promoting a plan which will increase air pollution in the valley where we are located. Increased industralization of the area, has increased air pollution to an undesirable level. Re-location of an out-dated U.S. Highway, which carries a lot of North - South Traffic, will not aid in solving an already critical problem. 2. An accut parking problem already exists, in this community, and many old and established businesses along the proposed route, would be greatly hampered in their operational activities. 3. Safety should be a major factor in the planning of any Highway. To continue to rout the many large trucks which use U.S. 61 down the poorly graded Burlington Hill and into the sharp turn and dangerous intersection at Avenue H and 2nd street, is to display a total lack of regard for the value of the life of human beings. 3. It is illogical to build a four-lane Highway through a town which will "feed" traffic into a two lane Highway, on either side of town. 4. The corridor which has been chosen for the Highway relocation, was chosen because it is the so-called "cheapest" area of town. This situation exists, because of the socio-economic factirs which have prevailed and systematically denied many of he residents of this area the prvilege of living in other parts of the community. There are substandard homes in the area, but there are many that are decent by any standards. The worst homes are not all that are in the line of the corridor. Many of the home-owners, living in this area, are retired or semi-retired. Having worked hard to improve their homes and build new homes, they have contributed their "fair" share to this city. Housing which will be "comparable" and within the "means" of the people to be relocated, is not available, and will not be made so by the planned building of "Low-Rent" Housing or "Housing for the Elderly". 5. Taxpayers are going to have to shoulder more of an expense because of the relocation costs, for people living in the proposed corridor. The major portion of the burden will fall on the average worker, who is already overtaxed, in proportion to the tax bills of the more affluent. 6. Wem as taxpayers, are paying for the building of Highways. It is no pleasure to trace and have to stop making reasonable time because they have to drive through a town as long as Fort Madison. Enyon who does any amount of highway traling, is thankful for any By-Pass they encounter. The scenery of the relocation route will only add to the inconveience. A By-Pass to the north of Fort Madison, could provide a scenic view of this Mississippi river valley town, and perhaps entice people to stop, while a City route will only encourage travelers to get through this "bottleneck" as fast as possible.