Byway will do nothing to solve traffic problems

In response to Bill Litsinger's 10/30 column in the Bee:

Bill asks why NICAN gives credence to ITD's statements that the Sand Creek highway will not reduce the traffic in town. The answer is that if ITD could conjure up traffic data to support a statement that the Sand Creek highway will reduce traffic in town, they would have jumped on it years ago. The fact that the $70-plus million project won't solve Sandpoint's traffic issues is problematic — for ITD and for Sandpoint.

Notwithstanding the results of your effort to determine what percent of the vehicles entering town actually stop, the fact is that Sandpoint is the county seat and business center of this rapidly growing area. People have to come to town to take care of business. More people more traffic. And by the way, the "byway" will do nothing about east-west traffic, 18-wheelers included, which is one reason a west side highway will eventually, probably, be built.

NICAN is also in favor of up-to-date environmental studies on potential alternative routes and ample opportunity for community input based on full disclosure of the impacts, which is not how ITD has conducted the Sand Creek bypass process.

LIZ SEDLER

Sandpoint

NICAN