To the editor:

KDOT’s initial preference was to build the new U.S. Highway 59 one mile east of the existing road. KDOT changed its mind and, instead, has decided to build the highway 300 feet east of the existing road. I am baffled by KDOT’s decision, which I believe is not supported by the $500,000 Environmental Impact Statement.

KDOT’s chosen alignment will displace many more homes and businesses, and cost $12.4 million more, than the rejected alignment. In these hard times, when the state has even considered selling the turnpike, KDOT has chosen a route that will cost more and displace more people.

KDOT says the chosen alignment will offload more traffic from existing U.S. 59. In my opinion, after reviewing KDOT’s traffic counts, the rejected alignment offloads a comparable number of cars. In fact, at points both north and south of Sand Creek Road, KDOT’s chosen alignment will leave 900 more cars per day on old Highway 59 (as compared to that which the rejected alignment would leave on old 59).

This difference is considerably greater than at any point where the rejected alignment leaves more cars on old 59. The FHA’s Record of Decision states the rejected alignment would carry more traffic, including additional traffic from Baldwin City. Thus, KDOT has chosen an alignment that will not be as beneficial to Baldwin and that, overall, will provide less service at a much higher cost. I do not understand why Gov. Sebelius has allowed this decision to go forward.

Patricia Brady,

Baldwin