STOP the freeway expansion; Highway Department feeling some heat

[LiberalArkie]

I was happy to see John Brummett's column in the Democrat-Gazette this morning with support for state Rep. Warwick Sabin's idea — outlined in the Times recently — that the state Highway and Transportation Department rethink its plan to widen the swath of concrete that I-30 plows through the heart of the city. It will further destabilize neighboring territory and prevent impediments to redevelopment on the east side of Little Rock.

It won't be easy to stop this speeding semi-truck of tax spending.

In some Twitter exchanges last night, Highway Director Scott Bennett indicated the unhappiness with which the road-building authority is reacting to rising objections to its plan. He did not like being questioned about putting a project engineer as the lead "facilitator" of discussions on the project (maybe he should use Warwick Sabin he snarked.) I can understand the rancor. Public hearings have been marked recently by increasing unhappiness. He particularly did not like my view that it makes little sense for Little Rock to pay for and be punished by yet another scheme to move people to and from suburbs like Cabot more quickly.

Snip

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/10/25/stop-the-freeway-expansion-highway-department-feeling-some-heat