I-69 foes to visit path areas

County Under New Terrain US I-69, a local group opposed to "new terrain" routes for the Interstate 69 extension, has organized a driving tour along four of the proposed routes of the highway. The tour is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, and students and the public are invited to attend.\nNew terrain construction of the highway, according to opponents, would waste tax dollars, be environmentally destructive and displace home owners. \nJohn Smith, a local resident of 28 years and owner of Bikesmith Bicycle Shop in Bloomington, is the director of COUNT US. He said the state has failed to inform people that their houses could be removed by the routes.\n"In practice, less than 5 percent of people know about the routes," Smith said.\nCOUNT US backs the 70/41 route for the highway. This route follows Interstate 70 west from Indianapolis, then turns south along State Road 41 to Evansville. It would not pass through Bloomington or Monroe County. \nSmith said the purpose of the driving tour is to educate the public about the effects of new terrain construction for I-69 and advocate for the 70/41 alternative. \nThis route is the least expensive and would have the smallest environmental impact of the five proposed routes, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation's Environmental Impact Statement. The report also said this route is the "least preferred" option for the highway.\n"By putting this highway on 70/41, we can save up to 1 billion dollars in gas tax money," Smith said. "All the money comes from state gas tax dollars."\nTwo driving groups will start in Evansville. A starting point closer to IU is on State Road 46 and Union Valley Road, west of Bloomington. All the groups will gather between 4 and 5 p.m. at Southwesterly Park near I-465 for "speeches, music, posting of our pictures of 'what we will miss most'" from the new terrain routes, according to the group's Web site.\nCouncilman Andy Ruff, who also backs the 70/41 route, said that students should oppose new terrain construction of the highway as civic minded individuals. \n"Students should be aware and informed of issues that affect all of us," Ruff said. "They should be opposed to the highway because it's bad public policy. It puts us further down the the wrong path of sustainable transportation."\nStudents who want to go on the tour can meet at the Oliver Winery on State Road 37 at 3 p.m. or get a ride on a bus chartered by COUNT US by calling 876-1079. Information is also available at www.i69tour.org.