Byway decision is not a popularity contest

I've read with interest the recent flurry of pro-bypass letters to the editor. They all seem to share a common theme — that the selection of a route for the bypass is a popularity contest — it is not! The route selection is a regulatory compliance contest — little else matters. ITD wants you to believe it is a popularity contest ("the vast majority of Bonner County residents approve …") because that is the only way they can push through their desired route. In a nutshell, the regulations require that the route that does the least damage to the aquatic environment must be selected; a through town route trumps a highway in the creek every time.

Those that don't bother understanding the regulations and blindly support the Sand Creek alignment have become unsuspecting pawns in ITD's high-stakes game to push the bypass through. ITD's "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" approach to regulatory compliance has made quite a mess of things at a cost of $20 million and untold years of delay. It is certain that when the Sand Creek alignment sinks to its watery grave we'll hear chants of "those environmentalists." However, ITD is the captain of this ship and they are solely responsible for the decisions that have been made. Had they considered regulatory compliance from the very start they would have said, "Sorry, but regulations simply don't allow us to put the highway in the creek."

NICAN's got it right, folks. As we are a nation of laws, and NICAN has the laws on their side, I have every reason to believe they will prevail. Instead of continuing to throw good money at bad it is time for ITD to put on a brave face and start the process to find another route for the byway. Time's a wastin'.

STEVE POTTER

Sandpoint

Citizens for the

Sandpoint Tunnel