[Vision2020] Ring Road vs internal Hwy 8 bypass

[Bruce and Jean Livingston]

I agree with Nils and Dan on the need for a bypass to the west.  An eastern 
bypass makes little sense to me, when one considers the volume of traffic 
between Moscow and Troy versus that going between Moscow and Pullman.

I also believe that Nils' concerns are valid that whatever road is picked to 
funnel commuter and through traffic away from downtown will spur development 
in the area selected for the road.

Whitman County is actively seeking to spur development in the Moscow-Pullman 
corridor, to address county revenue shortages.  I suspect that the entire 
distance between Moscow and Pullman will eventually see development, unless 
contrary steps are taken, given Whitman County's development efforts. 
Developing the corridor in between Moscow and Pullman also makes a lot of 
sense to entrepreneurs, who are trying to draw customers from both towns.

Unless some creative conservation easements are obtained, development seems 
likely in the corridor, and I don't know that it can be stopped, or whether 
that is desirable to enough of the community at-large, or whether the voice 
of Moscow and Pullman can exert any influence on policy-makers in Whitman 
County who have their own, differing, objectives.

My sense is that the commuters and the users of the Chipman trail would 
prefer not to have the corridor developed.  Personally, I am in accord with 
those users and do not desire development of the corridor.  Whitman County, 
and certain businesses needing large tracts of land, especially, desire the 
development.  Moscow and Pullman prefer development to occur within their 
municipal boundaries or on their edge where development can be annexed.

In many ways, it seems to me that we ought to be focusing on growth that is 
good for our community, the Palouse, and not just the discrete political 
subdivisions with all their little self-interests that may not fit what 
makes the most sense if we didn't have concerns about who gets what tax 
money or tax burden.  A cooperative, regional approach has appeal to me, 
especially if it leads to a cooperative approach on water.  Water issues may 
be the biggest obstacle for development in Whitman County, and I suppose 
cooperative ventures between Moscow and Whitman County are another 
possibility, sharing water and tax revenue.  Whether there is any 
inclination on the part of either entity to entertain such discussions is 
not something I know.  But forestalling development on most of the 
Moscow-Pullman corridor might occur by exploring ways of containing sprawl 
along the corridor and encouraging the development closer to Moscow and 
Pullman.

Bruce Livingston

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nils Peterson" <nils_peterson at wsu.edu>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>; <areaman at moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 9:55 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Ring Road vs internal Hwy 8 bypass


> Thanks for the post, Dan. I agree, call it "Fred" or "bypass" and start 
> with
> the SW segment.  With all the development going up Warbonnet Dr, it seems 
> a
> poor choice for the SW segment to come in there (hard for Warbonnet to 
> start
> the NW segment), but if it goes out into Washington, does that further
> encourage development on the Washington side of the state line?
>
>
> On 8/7/06 6:40 PM, "Dan Carscallen> wrote:
>
>> Having sat in on a lot of the discussions prior to the recent public
>> unveiling, I can see where you are coming from.  It is nice to hear some
>> more people come up with more ideas, though.  While ITD's recent
>> origin/destination study didn't justify a bypass for Moscow, I think
>> most people will tell you they would like to see it.  I'd like to see
>> it, along with some connectivity around town.
>>
>> I think people get worked up a bit when they see the entire "Ring Road"
>> concept (I'm with Walter Steed, maybe we should call it "Fred") without
>> realizing that *if* it ever gets built, it will be built in segments.
>> Probably the southwestern section first, then the northwestern quarter,
>> thereby giving us our western bypass.  Next would probably be the
>> southeastern quarter, giving us a Hwy 8 bypass.  The Northeastern
>> quarter would probably be last, if built at all.
>>
>> My dream, if you will, would be to see the ring road built, in some form
>> or another, turn Main street into something even more walkable than it
>> is, and turn Washington and Jackson back into two-way streets.
>>
>> You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
>
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