Welcome to a familiar friend with a new look. WaysSouth is now the name of the organization that has been working hard on transportation issues that you care about, including the proposed Interstate 3, Corridor K, and advocating for responsible transportation throughout Appalachia. Our primary goals remain stopping I-3 and promoting environmentally-sound solutions for Corridor K.

WaysSouth fills a niche that has long been neglected, one that is critically important to the preservation of the environment, heritage, and sense of place in the southern Appalachians. Our niche is to help find ways to meet the transportation needs of the region, while protecting its unique environmental, cultural, and historic characteristics. We aim to do this by developing a vision of what the southern Appalachians will be like in the future if their special qualities are preserved, while at the same time their transportation needs are met in a manner that ensures the continued prosperity of the region.

The WaysSouth vision starts with the premise that not all regions of the south need to follow the typical development pattern of highways, strip malls, and high-density single family housing developments. There is significant value for the nation in preserving the southern Appalachians as a special place.

We are fulfilling our vision by developing and engaging: (1) expertise in transportation planning, (2) knowledge of all modes of transportation and their benefits and costs, (3) economic needs of, and impacts on, communities and the region, and how they are affected by transportation, and (4) the environmental, historic, cultural, and community qualities that make southern Appalachia special and how they may be impacted by transportation development.

Using this expertise, we intend to engage in dialogue and negotiation with the several state departments of transportation, regional planning agencies, county and city governments, and local leaders to develop common goals and vision for meeting transportation needs while preserving the special qualities of Appalachia. We hope to develop partnerships with universities,

agencies, and other nonprofit organizations so that we can work together to achieve our common goals. We believe that our goal of a prosperous southern Appalachia whose special environmental, historic, and cultural qualities are preserved and enhanced is shared by all those who have the long-term good of the region at heart.

Ted Doll - WaysSouth Chair

Several months ago people began asking, “Oh, I-3, hasn’t that been stopped already?” This prompted the Stop I-3 board to consider what we would do if the results of the impending routing study showed that no such road is needed. Some board members were of the opinion that we should throw a big party and fold-up the organization. Others with experence in fighting interstates reminded us that winning a battle does not mean we’ve won the war. Highways have a way of bounding back to life 15 to 30 years

later. It’s also clear that I-3 might be built in pieces, the proposed “Corridor K” highways in North Carolina and Tennessee being among them. Other issues that need attention are also apparent -- particularly the place of rail in the future transportation needs of the Southern Appalachians. As the board looked at all of the transportation issues that contribute to protecting the Southern Appalachians and our way of life, the decision was made to broaden our mission. In doing this, it became obvious that the organization needed a broader name. After much deliberation, the name WaysSouth was chosen.

When working on stopping I-3, the familiar name, the Stop I-3 Coalition, with its widely recognized logo, will be used. The Web site, www.stopi-3.org, will continue to provide information about our efforts to stop Interstate 3. WaysSouth will work proactively to solve transportation problems in the Southern Appalachians while preserving our environment, our economy, and our way of life. We hope you will join us as we go forward, knowing that the organization will be on the job in case the fight against I-3 goes on for many years. Thanks for your continuing support.

Lucy Bartlett - Past Chair

We are not sitting on our laurels while waiting for the study of I-3 to
begin. Our staff and volunteers are keeping in touch with the Federal
Highway Administration and working with legislators and local officials
to ensure that WaysSouth has a seat on the study advisory committee so
that we can represent your interests.

We are also insisting that the study include an
opportunity for meaningful

public input, and that public input inform the recommendations of the study. Visit http://www.wayssouth.org
/action/index.php to see
how you can help. While these efforts go forward, we continue to add to
the list of counties and regional planning organizations (RPOs) that
have adopted official resolutions opposing I-3. We are working with
three grassroots groups in South Carolina – the Oconee Preservation
Unlimited Stewardship Trust (OPUS), Upstate Forever, and the Concerned Citizens for Conservation. Our joint goal is to persuade the Oconee County, SC commission to pass a resolution opposing I-3.

Oconee County sits in the beautiful rolling hills of northwestern South Carolina. The people of

Oconee County desire to
protect the natural resources,
open space, and scenic
views that are endemic to
this historic area. The
Oconee County resolution
will further enhance the
impressive list of counties
and RPOs in Georgia and
North Carolina that are
already on record as
opposing I-3. See
http://www.stopi3.org/
officialresolutions.php
to view these resolutions.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Tennessee and North Carolina departments of transportation continue their efforts to build a major interstate highway through some of the most beautiful and fragile parts of the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests, including the Ocoee Gorge. The Corridor K highway was proposed more than 40 years ago by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The rationale was to alleviate the isolation and poverty of the Appalachians. But since then, a highly-successful historic and recreational tourism economy has developed which is dependent upon the preservation of our unspoiled mountain vistas, valleys and forests. The proposed highway would seriously compromise these very qualities that have brought prosperity to our region. Increased heavy commercial traffic and large manufacturing plants would degrade the environment and the local economy on which the population now depends.

Existing infrastructure, with alterations and maintenance, can handle current and future transportation needs without further unnecessary destruction of our natural environment. Improvements to existing roads in North Carolina and Tennessee would go a long way in solving commercial traffic concerns. The re-emergence of railways on existing rights of way is already demonstrating their capability to absorb growth in commercial transportation.

We need your help to share this information with others. If you are interested in getting involved with our Corridor K effort in North Carolina or Tennessee, please contact WaysSouth. Learn about the link between Corridor K and the controversial Interstate 3, and see maps of the area by visiting the Corridor K Web site at www.wayssouth.org.

WaysSouth recommends that the NCDOT consider alternative transportation solutions rather than create a new, four-lane road from Stecoah to Robbinsville. To see the NCDOT report and read WaysSouth’s concerns, go to the Corridor K Web site at www.wayssouth.org.

The Southern Environmental Law Center has submitted formal comments with signed endorsements of the Southern Appala-chian Forest Coalition, Western North Carolina Alliance, WildSouth, The Wilderness Society, and WaysSouth. Additional letters of opposition to the intrusive highway were submitted by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, SouthernAppalachian Forest Coalition, WaysSouth, and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning. Expert transportation analysis and geology comments have been submitted questioning the need and true impact of the proposed four-lane road. NCDOT plans to hold a public meeting early in 2009, distributing information and answering questions at that time. We will advise our mailing list of the details as they become available.

Thanks to those who responded to our Action Alert by sending your concerns and opinions to the NCDOT. If you did not receive the Action Alert and would like to receive future mailings, contact us.

WaysSouth recommends improvements to the existing two-lane road through the Ocoee Gorge. We strongly oppose the proposed new road to be constructed through the Cherokee National Forest and the Hiwassee River watershed. The consultant on the Tennessee segment of Corridor K, URS, Inc., will soon begin preparing their Transportation Planning Report (TPR) and Draft Environment Impact Statement (DEIS). We need local people concerned about the integrity of the Ocoee Gorge and surrounding natural areas who are willing to be involved in the Department of Transportation (DOT) processes as members of our resource teams. Please let usknow if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about serving in this capacity.

Tom C. Alderhold

Mary J. Baker

Lucy Bartlett

Laura Bell

James Bishop

Mike Brock

Elmer & Betty Butler

Emily Calhoun

Nannette Curran

Linda DiSantis

Ted Doll

Marie Dunkle

Martha Ezzard

Richard Fisher

David Fore

Jules Fraytet

Anne Hardy

Margaret & Bob Hatcher

Ginny Heckel

Hugo Hemmerich

James H. Hendry

Keith Hicks

Hugh Irwin

Hillery James-Chung

Robin Jones

Adele Kushner

Karen LeCroy

Hoyt LeCroy

Kristina Lefever

Sarah Linn

Oly Lombard

Carolyn Martin

Melanie Mayes

Patricia McCamy

Robert McWilliams

Helen Meadors

David Milikin

Phyllis Miller

Audrey Moylan

Phil Novinger

Robert Oftedal

George L Otis

Bruce Perry

Tim Price-Williams

Robert Robert

Joe Ruf

Charles Samples

Sara Smith

W. Christopher Smith

Jane Snipes

Donna Stroud-McAuliffe

Dean C. Swanson

Grace Trimble

Terry Wehunt

Dorothy Whitelaw

George Williams

Elizabeth Williams

Marjorie Wimmersberger