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Williston, ND Active Issues -> Williston, ND Active Issues -> Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
Post Info TOPIC: Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
Sue Evans


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RE: Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
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Yes, from the stats I viewed they will get 60 million.

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Steve Powell


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I wasn't able to make it to Hoeven's visit.  I'm curious to know if the TRE was brought up. 

Anyone?

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Sue Evans


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I suspect we had better see the full scope of the bond debt prior to jumping on board. Let's make sure the city insures the debt so we are not left hanging. I don't know if this is possible. Even if the infrastructure can be a shared liability with the contractors and the state assists us with low cost bonds, what happens when the contractors from out of state default. Who is left hanging? I know housing is important. Mounting debts for our children just can not be the answer. Will this infrastructure bonding be select for housing? What is the full scope of it? Will it be for the MEGA landlords who charge the massive rents? What are the tax payers (US) helping to finance and what will our benefit be?

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Sue Evans


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I don't recall the TRE being involved back then either..

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Steve Powell


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I was a young lad in those days and I'm a bit naive to the details of that, but didn't we do into that venture without backing from the state?  Isn't that the big difference between the two scenarios?

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Sue Evans


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Please note on Steve's link, Hoeven will be addressing Hwy 85 on the 6th at the El Rancho. I will be attending. Our paper listed the event as our infrastructure bonding issue that got us into the millions of dollar in debt from the 80's boom.

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Steve Powell


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I would invite you all to read in depth the official TRE website.  Some very good knowledge to be had by all...

http://www.trexpressway.com/NewsEventList.aspx

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
bohdan


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The badlands is already 3 lanes, whats one more? and the speed is already reduced to 55. How much slower do you want to go.

 Montana has reduced speed for semi's and it is more hazardous than safe. 

Road maintenence is also very important on that road. As it is right now I try to avoid it.

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Steve Powell


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COFFEE!!!  You win my vote!!biggrinbiggrinbiggrin

When I refer to falling asleep or driving drunk...I'm referring to the safety of the oncoming trafic as opposed to the offender.  4 lanes prevents more head on collisions due to these scenarios...in my mind anyways.

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Jibslider


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I would be more supportive of 2 lanes through the badlands and 4 outside of the area. Upping the lanes of travel to 4 won't stop people from falling asleep or driving drunk, if this is your main concern an increase in patrols from the HP would be more justified than a major construction project... or maybe a 24 hour drive through coffee shackbiggrin.

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Steve Powell


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And if not...how bout 2 lane through the park and 4 lane the rest of the way? 

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Steve Powell


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Techically, the park already has four lane...it's only the road getting to the park that is not....correct?

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Sue Evans


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We all learned defensive driving.

Now using the logic that others on the 2 lane are asleep or drunk, perhaps we should review those who become confused on multiple lanes and drive on the wrong side of the 4 lane. They are fully alert, just confused.

I would gladly do what we can to save lives. I also feel when the good Lord decides it is our time, we have no choice. I do understand the increased traffic issues. I also want to see our parks remain as they were intended.

A 4 lane project in the proper element. Perhaps we should just move the park. LOL



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Steve Powell


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Does reduced speed limit work when oncoming traffic is falling asleep or drunk?  I know by this theory it should be that every road should be four lanes, but we're talking about a major thoroughfare that generates at least as close to, if not as much traffic as highway 2. 

Humans versus animals?  I know that wasn't your intended argument but assuredly someone will mis-read that. 

Poor little furry animals.  cry

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Jibslider


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Steve Powell wrote:

Have you all seen the traffic down 85 the last several years?  Isn't there a question of safety?  Honestly, wouldn't just one life saved be worth it?


I say yes, one life saved would be worth it... but I'm talking about wildlife lives here in the case of North Dakota's National Park. US 85 through the badlands already segments the migration of numerous deer, antelope, and big horn sheep to name a few. If you add another 2 lanes to the US 85 barrier, it will just make it more difficult for these creatures to pass through.

Obviously, I know you were talking about human lives, and if safety is of concern I have to agree with Sue in thinking that a reduced speed limit is the 1st step instead of throwing more concrete and asphalt down.

 



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Sue Evans


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Control the speed limits, road maint. weight restrictions...how many lives have been lost thus far??



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Steve Powell


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Have you all seen the traffic down 85 the last several years?  Isn't there a question of safety?  Honestly, wouldn't just one life saved be worth it?

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Sue Evans


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I agree, NO to the project. I wish we could have voted on the expenditure with our tax dollars dedicated to this. There are proper places for 4 lane projects. This, in my view, is not the place. I have enjoyed parks for reasons other than commerce or trade pathways. My view was not the same as our city.

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Jibslider


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I still say no mega highway through the badlands. One is enough. Hopefully the organizers have enough sense to knock the lanes down to 2 through the North Unit.

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Sue Evans


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Just a little did you know:

Our city donated $100'000 to the TRE over a 4 year period out of our 1 cent tax. Our County donated $40'000 to the TRE out of our tax over the same period of time. Our commissioner Brad B. is on the board for the TRE. The money donated from the city came from our "Star Fund" which was also known as the "Jobs Creation Fund". We have a part in this fund that allows for up to $50'000 to be administered for econonic development in our trade region provided they can show proof of matching funds. Of course I got the words "proof of matching funds" from our 2010 press release. I brought up these words to our commission and they were not aware of these terms even for the recent hand outs they approved. January of 2010 our city approved the check for $25'000 towards our obligation of the $100'000 pledge.

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stacyslap


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http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/article_d51eb43a-da3a-11de-b097-001cc4c03286.html

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Steve Powell


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No...because good never works as hard as evil to accomplish it's goals....MOOOWAAAHHHAHHHAAHHAAAA!!!!! furious.gifwink.gif



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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Jibslider


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Steve Powell wrote:
...But they would still bring the drugs regardless of the number of lanes...no?
Using your thought process, wouldn't trade still occur regardless of the number of lanes?

By the way, where is "dakotadj"? I figured he/she would have chimed in already stating that this new mega-highway would just be another way of shuttling "illegal aliens" into our country.

 



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Steve Powell


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I hadn't thought of that either.  Good point. 

I was looking more from a business aspect as well as a safety to anyone driving the road aspect. 

I think some research would have to be done to really break down whether or not there would be an increase in drug traffic.  I'm guessing if someone really wanted to get drugs from the south to the north they would rather take the road less traveled.  I'm not a drug traffic-er so I can't honestly say I really I know how those people think.  But they would still bring the drugs regardless of the number of lanes...no?

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
bowhunter_bj


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excellen point on the drug traffic, i'm sure nobody ever thoguht of that, myself included!

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bohdan


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I am against the 4 lane through the badlands for two reasons.

First I feel that it would ruin the feel of driving into the north unit. I have drove that road for many years and currently do it once a week. It never ceases to impress me when you come to the top of it and look out over the expanse of land. It's awesome.

Secondly from a law enforcement back ground this woulod become the biggest drug running freeway in the nation. A straight shot from Canada to Mexico, thats a drug runners dream. The Canadian port at Pembina ND is currently the leader in drug related arrests coming into this country. I don't want that coming through my backyard.

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Jibslider


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One 4-lane highway through the badlands is enough. I wonder what the financial impacts would be to re-route the highway through Killdeer and then south to Dickinson?

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Steve Powell


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It would be 85.  I don't think this would destroy anything.    It's the only road connecting canada to mexico directly so the benefits of this highway would be great.

It would make transporting goods to major cities south much faster and easier.  4 lanes would certainly make driving much safer.  I would think a straight shot past dickinson straight down to rapid city might even convince me to make that trip more often.

Haven't they already placed some 4 lane road in the badlands?


ps...I'm too lazy to correct my capitalization mistakes. smile.gif



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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Jibslider


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I was reading the online edition of the Herald and game across this story. First of all, I have to say the reporting missed a key piece of information... the location of the proposed 4 lane highway. Is it US 85? I can only assume so.

Anyway, I go to the ND badlands every summer to go mountain biking and I sure as heck wouldn't want a mega-highway running through the most picturesque location in the state. Why destroy the ND wilderness and stunt deer and antelope migration with a mega-highway just to pack more semi's between Canada and Texas?

No thank you.

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