Do you want to see the human and wildlife communities, water quality, and economic well-being of the Ocoee Gorge and Polk County harmed by a new Corridor K bypass? We don’t either, but powerful forces are trying to make it easier to do just that.
The Polk County News recently reported that Denny Mobbs, a Cleveland lawyer and prominent backer of the big-build alternatives for Corridor K, has “asked Congressman Chuck Fleischmann to try to get the 20% state match reduced” to make it easier to build a big project. According to the paper, “He pointed out the project is not a Congressional ‘earmark’ but a part of the Appalachian Highway Development System [sic], which is 88% complete.” We need you to help us counter this dangerous request.
The law that created the Appalachian Development Highway System specifically requires that “Federal assistance to any construction project under this section shall not be more than 80 percent of the cost of the project.” Mr. Mobbs apparently wants Congress to change this law so that Corridor K can get more federal money. The rest of the ADHS, which, as he pointed out, is nearly complete, was able to live with this restriction. Why, especially in these days of budget cutting in crucial areas, should Corridor K get special treatment?
Mr. Mobbs says his request isn’t for an “earmark,” but that’s sure what it looks like to us: Congressional action that would provide federal money to benefit a small group of people or area, without considering whether it’s good for the nation as a whole.
If you live in Rep. Fleischmann’s district, please contact him and:
Let him know you don’t agree that Corridor K should get special legislation making it eligible for more than 80% federal funding, and that it should instead be subject to the same rules as the rest of the ADHS.
Let him know the request sets a dangerous precedent of characterizing special requests that look and sound like earmarks as something else.
Let him know that the big-build bypass option would cost twice as much as improving the existing road, hardly a prudent investment in these times, and would devastate the Cherokee National Forest and communities in its path. It would provide little or no economic development benefit to the region, and it could even kill jobs in the whitewater industry if the existing highway is closed for lack of funds to maintain it. And, it would provide no travel time savings over improving the existing road.
And let him know that, if he thinks Congress should act to help Polk County and Corridor K, there is a better alternative. TDOT and its big-build allies appear to be arguing that ADHS funding can’t be used for improvements to existing roads as a justification for not considering targeted upgrades on Highway 64 instead of a new highway. We don’t believe any such restriction exists: We’ve looked carefully but can’t find any law, regulation, or policy document saying that, and when we ask where the restriction comes from, no one can give us a straight answer. But, now would be an excellent time for Congress to clarify that ADHS funds can be used to improve existing roads, so that TDOT won’t be able to continue to use this argument as an excuse not to evaluate this feasible, economically prudent alternative.
You can reach Rep. Fleischmann through his website email form at https://fleischmann.house.gov/contact-me/email-me or by phone at (202) 225-3271 (Washington, DC), (423) 756-2342 (Chattanooga) or (865) 576-1976 (Oak Ridge).
Thanks for your continued support of WaysSouth as we work to protect the Southern Appalachians and promote responsible transportation decisionmaking.