Here’s a look at some of the comparisons between the two proposed routes for the eastern leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway:

¢ Cost. The 32nd Street route would cost $123.1 million in 2007 dollars. The 42nd Street route would cost $175.8 million in 2007 dollars.

¢ Environment. The 32nd Street route would disturb 58 acres of wetlands, but mitigation plans call for the purchase of several pieces of ground that would be added to the wetlands complex. The purchases would include 247 acres to be converted into a wet meadow, 37 acres to use as tallgrass prairie and 16 acres that would be converted to riparian woodlands.

The 32nd Street mitigation package also includes 17 acres of man-made wetlands that already have been constructed near the Baker Wetlands.

The 42nd Street route would disturb 3.07 acres of wetlands, but mitigation plans call for 80 acres of wetland and habitat enhancement. That includes the purchase of 63 acres of farmland near the Baker Wetlands to be converted to a wet meadow and the use of 17 acres of existing man-made wetlands.

¢ Amenities. The mitigation plan for the 32nd Street route includes the construction, at state expense, of a 10,000-square-foot cultural wetland center that will be operated by Baker University. The center would have classrooms and exhibit space, and be connected to a new trail and boardwalk area.

The state also is proposing hike and bike trails that would link the wetland center with Mary’s Lake and the city’s Prairie Park Nature Center. The state is proposing to provide annuity to Baker University to cover annual operation costs for the wetlands and the center.

The plan also calls for a camping area in the southwest quarter of the wetlands. The wetlands area would be served by three new parking lots to provide easier access to visitors. Two trails would be built to connect Haskell with the wetlands area.

The 42nd Street route would provide one new parking lot for the Baker Wetlands area.

¢ Local streets. The 32nd Street plan would, at state expense, relocate the portions of Haskell Avenue that border the wetlands farther east and the portions of Louisiana Street farther west to create a buffer area around the wetlands. The state also would pay to move the existing 31st Street slightly south to take it off Haskell property. The land the street currently sits on would be turned over to Haskell for use as a wetland.

The 42nd Street route would not move any portion of Haskell, Louisiana or 31st Street. The state has only committed to reconstruct any roads that are directly affected by the construction.

¢ Relocations. The 32nd Street route would cause four homes and four businesses to be relocated and sever 11 farms. The 42nd Street route would cause three homes and one business to be relocated and sever 12 farms.