Hello all,
For your information, please see below my original email exchange where I confirmed that the current "local preference" is to make US-30 and Parker street an overpass. Key sentence is in bold. Unfortunately, no further response was received.
Thankfully, as the mayor points out in the article in the Times Union, we are still early in the process and public input is essential. And as he says, unless we speak up, “more than likely US 30 will overpass Parker Street”. That is exactly the purpose of our petition – to make it clear that access to US 30 at Parker street is essential for the safety of our neighborhoods!
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From: Nathan reeder
Sent: Saturday, May 7, 2022 5:14 PM
To: us30coalition@gmail.com
Subject: US 30 in Warsaw
Hello,
I have some strong concerns about the planned US30 intersection at parker street in Warsaw. Can you tell me who the correct person is to direct my concerns to?
Thank you,
Nathan Reeder
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From: Joe Thallemer <mayor@warsaw.in.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2022 9:06 AM
To: nathancreeder@hotmail.com <nathancreeder@hotmail.com>
Subject: US 30
Good morning Nathan,
Thank for your concern about US 30 Parker Street
To clarify, nothing has been finalized. The local preference options were drawn to show an overpass at Parker and US 30. This should improve safety significantly for local traffic. More than likely US 30 will overpass Parker Street.
INDOT engineers are beginning a study this summer to evaluate environmental and local issues surrounding the freeway option. They will be holding listening sessions to which you should attend and voice your concerns. Public input will shape final decisions.
Did you attend our public meetings? It appeared that the consensus was for the freeway to stay on the existing US 30 and not bypass the city.
Thanks
Mayor Joe
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Thank you Dr. Thallemer for your response!
No argument at all about the decision to utilize the existing US 30 route. My concern is the Parker street intersection being an overpass only. I strongly disagree that it will improve safety for local traffic. While this may be true for folks coming from south of 30, the reality is that 100% of the traffic, including big rigs, coming from US 30 to the Menards complex will have two choices on route:
They can exit center street, north on 175 E, and then west on Patterson. In this case, all of the heavy traffic will be routed through multiple residential areas - Lincoln Park, Redwood, Paths of Deerfield, Timber Ridge, Patterson Place (where you used to live!).
They can exit the new Spring Hill interchange, and be routed again through residential and school areas (Kuder estates, Harrison Elementary). Obviously increasing traffic in the area where Gideon Cook was killed is not an improvement in safety!
Again, Parker street is quite possibly the busiest interchange in town. While making it an overpass only may increase the convenience for people coming from the south of 30, it is at the expense of traffic and safety of the people living around the Menards area. I urge you to reconsider this decision and to weigh heavier the safety of the folks living in this area who will be the ones most directly affected.
Thank you,
Nathan Reeder