ODOT explanation and update

I thought it was time to explain what I'm up to--I've never been a politically active rabble-rouser before.

Hwy 33 cuts through the edge of our town. ODOT [Ohio Dept Of Transportation] has decided to turn as much of 33 into a freeway-like road as possible. The town has a traffic light in the very center, picture a sorta cross. High Street heads out of town to the north. It is the main downtown street. Heading south, it dead ends in a couple blocks, but north it continues across the train tracks, past the post office and across 33, where it changes name to Bowen. There is a business on 3 of the 4 corners there, and more businesses on the Bowen side. ODOT apparantly plans to turn off the light on 1 Sept, and turn both High [heading north] and Bowen [heading south] into cul-de-sacs. This effectively cuts off direct access to our downtown. It is a business killer. To get into town, one will have to go around past all the "big box" stores [Wal-Mart/Kroger/Home Depot etc.] and to quote The Music Man..."Who's gonna patronize an itty bitty 2 x 4 kinda store anymore?" Not to mention our twice weekly Farmer's Market.

I am very personally affected in that the light is neccessary to get into town. We bought our house here because the light was there. I am not allowed to drive. However I can ride a bike or walk. Without the light I would be forced to go approximately 5 miles around onto busy and dangerous roads. The reality is that I would not be able to get anywhere. I will be either house-bound or have to beg rides to go to the doc, church stuff, shopping of any sort, etc. I have now contacted the ACLU. Here's hoping for a quick response!

The traffic is already "messed up" and too heavy for the road configurations we have. One road is basically a wide one-lane. Oh it is no big deal for the occasional vehicles to pass each other, but to handle the real traffic that would of neccessity naturally reroute through there is another story. Due to all the new constrction, a light onto the main road is already a need, (and was promoised several years ago) but the whole road would also require widening. The road is partly in Franklin County, and partly in the outer edges of Columbus. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time convincing anyone in the engineer's office in Columbus that they are responsible for any part of this road as it seems that their maps are not quite caught up with the aquisition of territory--there's been a lot of annexation going on around here in the last couple years. Tomorrow I am going with camera in hand to photograph the "Entering Corp" signs that tell when you enter into the Corporation of Columbus.

The petition drive is picking up momentum, and a major article for our local paper went to press this afternoon. I should see it on Thurs. (Possibly Fri--but our carrier is pretty fast.) It is a weekly paper and has 2 sections, so don't laugh too much at it! Hmm...it just occurred to me--I'd best contact the monthly newsletter that goes out as well--they're probably getting June ready now! May's front page articles were both about our farmer's market--hours extended 'til 2:00 on Sat this year, and third Sats will have special events. I love our town.