Twisted Environmentalist Logic
by Judd WileyMay 9th, 2008, 9:36 pm
A friend who read a few of our posts asked me today, “Do you guys just kind of sit around and bash on environmentalists all day long?”
“Yeah, that’s kind of what we do,” I answered. “These stupid idiots actually have a really big impact on the quality of our daily lives.”
From the Los Angeles area, courtesy of KNBC, comes a perfect example of how environmentalists can wreak havoc on the citizenry.
Caltrans, which manages the state highways, is planning to build a bridge across a wildlife refuge in the Sepulveda Basin, connecting the the southbound 405 to the westbound 101. The bridge would ease congestion on one of the busiest and most accident-prone intersections in the country, which is currently operating way above capacity.
The current freeway connector was designed to handle up to 1,500 vehicles and hour, but is now handling 1,790, according to the LA Daily News. Highway planners also want to build a freeway loop that would alleviate the busy Burbank Boulecard on-ramp.
But, hold on.
Environmentalists said the on-ramp is the problem. If built as planners envision, it could occupy nearly two and a half acres of wildlife refuge.
Sharon Ford of the SF Valley Audubon Society said that any construction that impinges on this “oasis in an urban setting,” could signal its demise.
Ford said the proposal would create traffic noise that would scare some birds away and dust that could choke off the lake.
“What I’m against is going through the wildlife reserve,” Ford said.
Ford and others said that if Caltrans must improve the transition then the Burbank on-ramp should go away, routing traffic elsewhere while preserving the refuge.
What a jackass. To save two and a half acres of wildlife refuge, this Sharon Ford and the Audubon Society would rather leave the current congestion and accident-prone intersection as is. In Sharon Ford’s vision, cars would continue to clunk along at 5 mph, delivering a much greater carbon footprint than if traffic was allowed to move along at a respectable pace. Accidents would also continue unabated. But at least the big bad highway wouldn’t scare away the birds, or choke off the lake.
Environmentalists, as usual - placing a higher value on birds and lakes than on human beings.
Related Posts
Posted in Bridges, Environmentalism, Highways, Traffic Congestion |
