Letters
It's not a choice
Editor, The Transcript:
An open letter to Gov. Brad Henry:
The League of Women Voters of Norman sincerely urges you to take the initiative as Governor to issue a moratorium on relocation of the Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway through the state-owned Oklahoma City Union Station rail yard. We further believe that the Santa Fe Station, whose terminal building is privately owned and whose narrow, elevated yard already handles in excess of 40 fast freight trains each day, is clearly not a candidate to become our regional transit hub.
This issue affects every community in Oklahoma that has rail service to and thorough Oklahoma City, and it is pivotal to the future of passenger and freight transportation statewide. The development of modern multi-modal transportation systems is central in the effort to reduce the harmful emissions of fossil fuels and to increase economic opportunities.
Oklahomans for New Transportation Alternatives Coalition (OnTrac) has consulted transportation experts and engineers about the possibility of realigning a segment of the Crosstown Expressway so that it would fall 200-300 feet south of the Union Station rail yard on right-of-way owned by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). It appears that realignment is definitely feasible. To date five communities - Norman, Chickasha, El Reno, Shawnee, and Lawton -- have passed resolutions petitioning you to convene a special commission to consider realignment proposals. ODOT is vigorously opposing any effort to consider an alternative plan which would save the Oklahoma City rail yard.
This is not a choice between the Crosstown or Union Station rail yard. The Crosstown can be relocated, but once the rail yard is destroyed, the cost of acquiring land and rebuilding a station with space for multiple rail lines would be astronomical. We believe that this lost opportunity would adversely affect the future of Oklahoma indefinitely.
BARBARA ROBINSON
President, League of Women Voters, Norman
- Letters
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Prune trees smart or not at all
Editor, The Transcript: Norman is a city graced by many beautiful trees. And yet our city lacks an ordinance to control tree pruning.
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Understanding Norman’s Greenbelt Commission
We are three members of a subcommittee of the Norman Greenbelt Commission asked by the city to draft an amended Greenbelt Ordinance.
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William Fruth needs to hear the truth
Editor, The Transcript: Reference the Wednesday article by reporter Andrew Knittle titled “Seeds of Prosperity.
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Where is the courage?
Editor, The Transcript: The Republican attitude toward health care seems to be, “I’ve got mine, too bad about yours.
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A strong team working for Norman
Editor, The Transcript: This letter is in response to the article published in your paper Wednesday regarding William Fruth’s comme
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A failure to present science
Editor, The Transcript: I am writing in response to David Deming’s recent op-ed (Feb. 20).
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Krew wants to clear the air
Editor, The Transcript: I am writing in regard to The Transcript article Feb. 16 titled “2010 Norman Mardi Gras parade winners announced.
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LWV fights for good government
Happy 85th birthday to the Norman League of Women Voters, and Happy 90th birthday to the LWVUS.
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To the rescue
Editor, The Transcript: I almost didn’t write this letter, but on second thought, decided that our fire, ambulance and ER departmen
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Just warming up
Editor, The Transcript: I was interested to read the article on global warming by Professor Deming (Transcript, Feb. 20).
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Prune trees smart or not at all
