Comment NOW on Scudder Falls Bridge project
by
Baja K | 02.03.2010
Public Comment on the I-95 Scudder Falls Bridge project...quite a monstrosity...was not widely announced... and now there's only One Day to Comment. February 4 is the last day. Spread the word.
Philadelphia Inquirer had a big article on Feb 3 (today) about the plans for a "new" "improved" Scudder Falls Bridge...about 29 miles up the river from Philly on I-95. Maybe you've canoed, hiked, or pedaled under it, or drove over it.
(It's not "Scudder's Falls" as some of us have called it since forever.)
See the article: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/83420852.html
The Delaware River agency in charge has had a Public Comment Period open since December...which ENDS tomorrow, Feb 4. I've seen no Inquirer or Greens or any announcement of this Comment Period.
How can the public comment if they don't know there's an opportunity to comment?
Points:
This bridge, as planned, will NOT include any walkway or Bike-way....even though there are well-used trails on both sides of the river at that point.
There will be tolls...which the present bridge doesn't have. Tolls are User Fees, a form of Regressive Taxation. Bill Gates pays the same toll as Joe Schmoe...even though Gates makes enough to pay all the tolls in the country every five minutes.
There will be no human toll collectors...just cameras to take a picture of license plate and then bill sent to car owner's home. Haven't looked up any worker or union activity on this.
Big thing politically is to Create Jobs...yet here's jobs taken from toll collectors in the booths.
Critics say it will encourage more sprawl and development and that it's overkill. Haven't time to look up other environmental concerns.
Those who don't want their picture taken, or who don't want to deal with toll collection mail coming to their homes (IF they are home to even get it), or who just don't want to pay tolls, will take alternative routes...adding traffic and pollution and the rest to the side road areas and overall.
With no toll collectors, there will be no one to ask for directions.
Who wants the states, or private toll collector contractors, to monitor their travels?
Don't know if the toll collection mail will include a postage-paid return envelope...but it if does not, that adds over 50 percent to the toll cost.
Driving someone else's car? The OWNER will have to dance around responsibilities to pay or get the bill to you and so forth.
Rentals WILL hike rental price to cover "services" paying your 75 cent toll for you and doing the credit card processing etc.
Go to the Scudder Falls Bridge web site here to see their info:
http://scudderfallsbridge.com
To email a Public Comment: ScudderfallsbridgeEAcomments@hntb.com
Include full name and address. Haven't checked to see what else may be needed.
One News story: http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2010/01/public_airs_concerns_during_sc.html
Phila. Bicycle Coalition mentions this...all too briefly: http://www.bicyclecoalition.org/
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