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FROM HUBERT’S SUPERHIGHWAY <br />TO THE 394 EXTENSION <br />'There is nothing pardculariy new in the <br />idea of upgrading Highway 12 west horn <br />Wayzaia. 'The idea has been discussed for <br />perfij^ 25 or 30 years by one group or <br />another. <br />Many of you will remember that Hubert <br />Humphrey both as Senator and Vice <br />President spoke openly and often about <br />making Highway 12 at least a four-lane <br />roadasfarasWaverly. Ironically, for all <br />of his well known ability to get things <br />done, Humphrey was never al' to <br />produce a superhighway veision of <br />Highway 12. Communities and other <br />interest groups to the west have taken up <br />the cause from time to dme, but never <br />with much effea <br />Now, however, there is reason to believe <br />that events are moving toward real action <br />on the four-lane freeway extension of <br />Highway 12. Here's a quick rundown of <br />key points to date: <br />l)MDOTs decision to ftmd a conida <br />study. $100,000 has been budgeted <br />'The process will take approximately one <br />year to designate the “conidor'’. 'This is <br />the key decision period. Iftheconidor <br />strays off the present Highway 12 <br />alignment, it will drastically effect <br />property values and salesability along the <br />conidar for many years until the <br />highway taking actually occurs. <br />2) FoUowing corridar designations (from <br />the study and with the agreement of <br />citizens and municipalities involved), <br />environmental impart studies are <br />required on one or mere of the most <br />promising picks. 'I\vo to three year <br />timetable. <br />3) Once en\ironmenial impart studies are <br />cleared and a final route chosen, property <br />acquisition begins. Could be a 3 to 4 <br />year process or longer. <br />4) There are no ftmds appropriated for this <br />project, or the necessary property taking <br />atthistime. To repeat the point here is <br />that once a oortidor is selected at the end <br />of the MDOT study, property values of <br />(}rono residents in that corridor will be <br />permanently affected. <br />The time to act is now. ,\nd the best way <br />to act is as a unified front making it <br />known that the best route for the Hwy. 12 <br />four-lane upgrade is along the current <br />route of Highway 12. Please send in your <br />membership. Sheer numbers in this effort <br />will count <br />We will be notifying all members via this <br />newsletter of the time and place for <br />coming meetings of Concerned Citizens <br />For Hwy. 1.'’ and Orono council meetings <br />that pertain to highway 12. Please attend <br />whenever possible. <br />Mayor Grabek <br />Urges Unity; <br />WiUSeek <br />Engineer <br />Consultant <br />'Ihe April meeting of Concerned Citizens <br />for Hwy. 12, held in the Fred and H <br />Winston home, was well attended and the <br />stage for lively discussioa <br />Perhaps the most significant infonnation <br />was a rqxTt to the group by Orono <br />Mayor Grabek. The mayor urged that the <br />time has come to upgrade Highway II <br />He also oicouraged all Orono citizens to <br />present a unified fiont ” Now", he said, "is <br />no time to divide along fractional or <br />geographical lines". <br />Th^ mayor also indicated his desire to <br />have the Qty of Orono engage a <br />transportation consultant to help educate <br />the dty about the process the state takes in <br />proceeding with a project as large as an <br />upgraded Highway 12. The consultant <br />will also assist the community in <br />coordiiiating its transportation network <br />relating to the upgrade. Results of such <br />work would be available to the public. <br />Concerned Citizens <br />ForHwy.l2 <br />745 Spring Hill Road <br />Wayzata, Minnesota 55391