URGENT: City Council to vote on Downtown Links alignment

Please join us in asking City Council to NOT vote forward the 3d alignment. Ask for alternatives to be seriously considered. See the talking points at the end of this message.

City Council chambers 225 W. Alameda
Tuesday July 8th
2:00pm - Study Session
5:30pm - Meeting

In June the Citizens Advisory Committee on Downtown Links buckled under continued pressure from the Department of Transportation and their consultant HDR, passing a recommendation to city council to approve alignment 3d (click here fore more info). This plan would demolish buildings that are essential to the identity and character of our neighborhood.

The current plan (3d) is being pushed forward despite continued requests from concerned citizens and community organizations for research into other options. In addition, essential information about the alignment is absent from the discussion, including cost break-downs, traffic studies and railroad requirements.

EMERGENCY! CAC MEETING MONDAY

Want to preserve the arts district? Want to save our neighborhood? Love BICAS? The Tucson Department of Transportation is attempting to build a road though Dunbar-Spring without open and fair public process!

COME SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT:

Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting

Monday, June 23 5:30pm

Main Public Library, Lower Level Conference Rooms

101 N. Stone Avenue

This may be our last chance!

• At the May CAC meeting the decision was made to do a full analysis of all alternative proposals, and to make no decision until public comment and neighborhood input could be made based on sufficient information and real investigation of alternatives.

• Full analysis of alternate proposals has not been provided and presentation has been entirely skewed in favor of the “3d” alignment (which cuts though Dunbar Spring just north of BICAS).

• Insufficient public process has not provided adequate time for neighborhood input. This has eliminated the ability of individuals in affected neighborhoods to have their dissent against 3d even considered in the decision making process.

• The CAC is being pressured to push through a decision that TDOT wants rather than acting in the interests of the neighborhoods and communities they are supposed to represent.

June CAC meeting

The next CAC meeting is Monday June 9th.
The city will be reviewing seven alternative proposals to the 3d plan.

Monday, June 9, 2008
CAC meeting at the Main Library,
101 N. Stone Avenue
lower level conference room.
4:00 - 5:30 Q&A with staff
5:30 CAC meeting

It will be extremely valuable to have as much input as possible from everyone, especially in getting the city to do their diligence on these alternative alignments. A final decision about which plan is to be put forward to mayor and council is due at the end of the summer.

VICTORY AT THE CAC MEETING

Last night the CAC decided unanimously to hold off on voting on an alignment until all other options have been presented and discussed.
Highlights of their decision include:

• Setting an August date to vote on proposals
• Commitment to review other proposals
• Bringing back to the table the "thread the needle" alignment
• Guarantee of more public comment before the August decision

Over 100 members of the Tucson community were present at the meeting. The vast majority of speakers voiced passionate opposition to alignment 3D. Thanks and congratulations to everyone who turned out and shared their feelings. Our message was heard loud and clear. Stay tuned for more information and next steps...

Door Knocking!

On Sunday, May 11th we will meet at 4:00 outside of BICAS underground to split into teams and walk parts of Barrio Anita and the West University neighborhood to spread the word about the current alignment and the very important CAC meeting on Monday.

Please join us! (and bring your friends!)
Sunday May 11th
4pm
BICAS courtyard

Press Conference Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


May 6, 2008

For more information:

Ian Fritz – Dunbar Spring Neighborhood 628-4318
Natasha Winnik – Originate 792-4207
www.rethinkthelink.com

Downtown neighbors, businesses and artists
speak out against new road plan.

A coalition of downtown neighbors, businesses and artists is organizing against the City of Tucson’s push to change the alignment of the Downtown Links, a section of roadway designed to extend the Aviation Parkway to I-10. The proposed realignment of the road will destroy important structures in the downtown arts district, displace businesses, and create a deep divide between neighborhoods and downtown.

The coalition will hold a press conference on Saturday, May 10 at 12 noon, at Originate Natural Building Materials Showroom, 526 N 9th Avenue.

Various representatives will give personal testimony on the alignment proposal, and media tours of buildings slated for demolition under the plan will be available immediately following the conference.

In January 2007, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) approved an alignment for the road after a thorough evaluation of 17 alternatives and several years of public input. It was approved as the most sensitive alignment that preserves the integrity of the downtown arts district and surrounding neighborhoods. In January of 2008, the City of Tucson announced a new alignment based on new criteria, making efforts to move forward on it without adequate input and without providing alternatives for study. The new plan results in destruction of historic structures, while cutting into both West University and Dunbar Spring neighborhoods. In response, Neighborhood Associations including Dunbar Spring and West University, affected business owners and community groups, such as WAMO (Warehouse Arts Management Organization), and BICAS, have called on the City to provide alternative alignments to study and proper time for public input. A May 12 meeting of the CAC will be held at the Tucson Convention Center.

ReThink the Link Flyer

Click on the image for a full size version of the flyer.