1. Update on Interstate 3 and Corridor K Melanie Mayes Thanks to: Axel Ringe Hugh Irwin Charley Kraus Jim Grode

2. Outline WaysSouth – Stop I-3 Coalition – Corridor K Coalition – Alternatives including rail – www.wayssouth.org www.wayssouth.org Interstate 3 Corridor K – TN link: US64 Ocoee Gorge – NC link: Robbinsville to Andrews

4. Interstate 3 in the News Kingsport, Knoxville, Nashville, Chattanooga TN Winston-Salem, Asheville NC Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Savannah GA Singapore

5. August 2005 – the “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU) passed by the US House and Senate Omnibus transportation bill Provides $1.6 million to describe steps and estimate funding to construct interstate 3 from Savannah to Knoxville via Augusta including $300K from GA Sponsored by late Charlie Norwood, US Rep. GA District 10 and Senators Chambliss and Iskason How did the Idea of Interstate 3 Get Started?

9. Stated Purpose of Proposed I-3: For military transport purposes To improve the economy of the area To honor the Third Infantry Division

10. 2010 I-3 Study Scope – ICF International, Wilbur Smith Associates – Develop 4-5 alternate routes (study area) and design levels – Costs and steps for construction of each route – Recommendations for additional “sub-studies” on economic, social, environmental factors Cost – $1.6 million over 1-2 year ($400K planned)

11. Primary Tasks of I-3 study Kickoff Meeting Inventories Expert Working Group (EWG) Project website Control points Public involvement Study alignments and design levels Detailed spatial analysis Draft estimates and costs Final Report to Congress (Spring 2011) Recommendations of sub-studies

12. Overarching Principles of Study Respect the statutory language Follow the statement of work Collaborate with the EWG, agencies, and public Consistency with FHWA guidance on cost estimating for major projects Consistency with linking planning and environmental processes Stay on schedule

13. Expert Working Group (EWG) 3-4 meetings in 2010-11 Attending meetings, reviewing data, sharing information, and making recommendations Input on report to Congress (Spring 2011) documenting potential routes, steps to completion, and costs – Recommendations on optional related sub-studies Closed meetings, minutes posted at FHWA project website www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/sec1927corridors.htm www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/sec1927corridors.htm

14. Expert Working Group (EWG) Kickoff Meeting Sept 16, 2010 Atlanta GA Non-Federal EWG MembersFederal EWG Members Augusta-Richmond Co. Planning Commission Cleveland MPO Coastal Region MPO Georgia Department of Community Affairs Georgia DOT Knoxville Regional TPO North Carolina DOT Tennessee DOT WaysSouth/Stop I-3 Appalachian Regional Commission Eastern Federal Lands EPA Region 4 FHWA GA Division FHWA NC Division (video) FHWA TN Division (video) National Park Service, Southeast Region US Army Corps of Engineers US Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region US Forest Service, Southern Region No SC participation

15. Status update Purpose and need are not well defined GA, NC, TN DOTs have no planned or projected requirement for a NW-SE corridor – Not present in any long-range plans – No supporting traffic studies – Lack of SC participation, lack of NC-TN funding No specific requirement for new roadbed No requirement for states to follow up

16. 4 Lines of Argument 1.Military does not move via highways, there are numerous existing routes, freight moved best by rail 2.Is this really the best way to honor the 3 rd ID? 3.Interstates are inconsistent with existing tourism-based development 4.Cost

17. The Military Travels by Air and Sea, Not Highways

18. Interstate 3 is not needed Savannah has two interstates, I-95 and I-16 – Primary highway routes for Savannah port freight – Efficient and existing rail routes to Atlanta and Knoxville for container freight from port 4-lane Savannah River Parkway to Augusta connects Savannah to I-20 GRIP: 4-lane route through GA – I-20 to GA-17, GA-17 to US441 to Toccoa, 441N through Franklin, NC to US23 to I-40 west of Asheville – Only 4 lane exceptions are Georgia 17 between Toccoa and I-20. Has local proponents but is a lower priority for GDOT Small section of 441 N of Clayton, may happen in 2013

19. Savannah to Knoxville by I-95, I-26, I-40 is 419 miles – shorter than any stated route of I-3 (~466 miles)

20. Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah Already Served by Four-lane Highway Forts Gordon and Stewart connected by new Savannah River Parkway Four-lane Highway

21. Georgia 17, when four- laned, will adequately serve the area between I-20 and I-85

22. Would I-3 be an Effective way to Honor the Third Infantry Division? Is spending several billion $$ on a highway the best memorial we can afford? 2 museums in existence Memorial at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning

23. Would I-3 Improve Economic Development? An interstate would actually degrade economy of the Southern Appalachians It would jeopardize recreational resources that businesses depend on