Letter to the Editor: (published in Daily Bee in Jan.04)

The latest cost estimate from ITD for the Sand Creek "Byway" is $66.1 million. This is about 3 times what was projected in the 1999 FEIS for the bypass. So far $8.75 million has been spent on "design" since the FEIS. These taxpayer dollars are padding the pockets of ITD's contractors, who so far have been unable to produce a solid, environmentally sound, acceptable plan to construct the 3 lane freeway up Sand Creek.

The EA on the major changes in design for the bypass was promised over a year ago - it has not yet been produced; nor has ITD applied for permits to put fill in Sand Creek, or for fill and sediment delivery to the creek, the Lake and the River. Federal and state regulatory agencies are looking askance at how ITD is proceeding.

The question arises as to ITD's agenda - apparently they feel it's appropriate to spend $8.75 million on a project that may be so environmentally unsound that it cannot be built.

Meanwhile, Duane Hagadone is proposing more waterfront development on Lake Coeur d'Alene - a hotel, luxury apartments and townhouses. The annual tax benefit to the city of Coeur d'Alene from $60 million dollars worth of development is estimated to be $340,000. (Spokesman Review, 1/1/04)

Conversely, the City of Sandpoint and local tourist dependent businesses have nothing to gain and everything to lose from ITD spending $66,000,000 (taxpayer dollars) to build a freeway up Sandpoint's prime waterfront.

NICAN intends to continue questioning ITD's actions and decisions. We believe the long term loss of revenue to the city and businesses far outweighs the questionable benefits of the Sand Creek route. ITD should go back to the drawing board and look at other options.

Liz Sedler, Executive Director

North Idaho Community Action Network