Comments

No couplet lover wrote on May 26, 2009 9:57 AM:

" I grew up in a large city, and witnessed the bad mistakes first hand. I watched helplessly as sprawl and smog took over. Then I chose to come and settle in a beautiful, unspoiled, place like Palmer.

Other places have also started out with great views, no smog, little traffic congestion, and a unique, historical, friendly atmosphere. Then they lost everything they had because they got it wrong. This couplet is a wrong move too!

It will ruin Palmer, and its residents know that. Take the money spent and allocated for the couplet, and keep it! "




Hi Nimby wrote on May 25, 2009 12:48 PM:

" Yes, he did. "




Nimby wrote on May 25, 2009 9:37 AM:

" Didn't Bill Allen come down from Fairbanks? "




to Lisnup wrote on May 24, 2009 6:07 PM:

" What's your take on the whole couplet concept? Give some insight from your perspective. "




to Lisnup wrote on May 24, 2009 5:56 PM:

" It's three lanes, get it, three lanes coming in all one way going thru the heart of downtown. Not just one lane, one way.
There will be no parallel parking. The speed limit coming off the PWH at this time is 35 mph, you think cars are going to slow down when they are trying to race through the next stop light at Cobb. Not hardly. There are very few cars that come into Palmer going 25mph now, you think it's going to change. Why do you think the city police sit at the intersection. "




Lisnup wrote on May 24, 2009 4:28 PM:

" Oh and now it's a "MINI Freeway" by Lorie's definition!!! A one way street with a speed limit at 25 is not a freeway. Oh yeah lets parallel park on this freeway and run in to shop! "




to Rusty wrote on May 24, 2009 2:11 PM:

" Thank you. Please come to the meetings, every single person counts. Your voice and more importantly your presence counts at meetings like these. The next meeting is June 16, 6pm at the Moose Lodge. ADOT and Kinney Engineering kick off meeting is June23 at the Depot.

2006: Kinney Engineering hired to complete Palmer Urban Traffic Study; study starts. ADOT engineer suggest one-way couplet in Palmer.

7/31/07: Kinney presents to City Council
8/22/07: Open House at Depot
8/23/07: MSB TAB supports couplet
9/11/07: Council supports couplet
Not much time for public input. "




Rusty wrote on May 24, 2009 1:34 PM:

" I did not say FoMS was directly involved, I said they promote the same garbage and now they have a contract with the Borough to develop a "Green Infrastructure" plan for the core area. All that will mean is you will PAY MORE for what you get and it will likely be a major inconvenieance as well, just like the couplet. Make no mistake, FoMS has big plans for just like this nonsense and you will not have any say in them at all. "




to Rusty wrote on May 24, 2009 12:03 PM:

" This is strictly an ADOT project to alleviate the so called east-west congestion on the PWH. Go read the study on the City of Palmer's website. ADOT hired Kinney Engineering to do the study. FoMS is not involved in any way on this project.
Interestingly, Kinney is consultant to Downtown Fairbanks Association wherein one-way streets are going back to two-way streets to revitalize the downtown. Go to Downtown Fairbanks Association and review Vision Fairbanks - History. Lots of information on public workshops and what was presented. Let's keep Palmer from making the mistake of one-way streets. "




Rusty wrote on May 23, 2009 8:46 PM:

" This couplet nonsense is right out of the "Smart Growth" handbook. You can thank your pals at "Friends of Mat-Su" for garbage like this.. that is the reason they exist ! FoMS are the creeps that need to go back where they came from. "




to Lisnup wrote on May 23, 2009 2:12 PM:

" Oh, and by the way, I have read the 200+ pages of the Palmer Urban Traffic Study. Have you? By your comment it appears that you have not and have no idea what you are talking about. "




to Lisnup wrote on May 23, 2009 1:47 PM:

" I did do my research, more than 200 hours so far. I''ve also been in touch with independent traffic engineers around the country.
This is three lanes coming into Palmer and three lanes going out of Palmer, all one-way. If this isn't a mini-freeway, I don't know what else you'd call it. Pay attention next time you drive to Anchorage where it narrows down to 3 lanes one way into town. Is that what you want in Palmer. And no, not hysterical, practical. "




Lisnup wrote on May 23, 2009 10:31 AM:

" Lorie - A "One Way" street is not a freeway! Must be locally educated. Typical hysteria "




Lisnup wrote on May 23, 2009 10:29 AM:

" You numb nuts are delusional if you think it's Wal-Mart with all the pull in Palmer, Give me a break! Head down to the The Valley Cafe, sit a spell you'll get all the scoop and p00p. "




Lorie wrote on May 21, 2009 8:01 PM:

" You can make a difference and stop this project.

There will be a petition circulating that has to have voters in the City of Palmer sign (that means you vote in city limits) to put an ordinance Precluding One Way Couplets in the City of Palmer. We want to obtain hundreds of voters inside Palmer City limits so this can go on a special election ballot to allow the citizens of Palmer a voice in this decision. Let's make a difference in our town. Get involved. Stop this freeway from coming into our town. "




Ben C wrote on May 21, 2009 7:04 PM:

" This bull about DOT taking the time to listen to public input is just that; a load of crap. It's just another example of a government dept sitting through something in order to give the appearance of giving a darn about what you think. Going through the motions. While they sit there, raise their eyebrows, nod thier heads and stroke thier chins at the proper moments all they're really doing is watching the clock. Then later they can say "after listening to public input" blah blah blah (we're gonna do what we planned on doing all along anyway) "




caps wrote on May 21, 2009 2:29 PM:

" This is about federal dollars, employment and the Valley's Comprehensive Plan for growth.

DOT is pretending to listen to local opposition just to let them all vent before the inevitable happens. Similar Projects in Anchorage and Eagle River that change the landscape from country to city have been fought for years but are happening anyway.

Look up who owns the nearby land,what housing/construction projects will become possible after completion of the road system and you'll know why it's happening.
It will be called 'growth' and 'ultimately beneficial to the community' regardless. "




Lorie wrote on May 20, 2009 1:58 PM:

" Meeting June 16, 2009, @ 6pm Moose Lodge. Consultant brought up by merchants and residents that want to have another source other than State DOT to give pros and cons of a one-way couplet. This is scheduled as a special city council meeting to encourage our city council to hear other alternatives other than the one-way couplet and to hear the cons of a one-way couplet. Please come to the meetings. Your presence is key to help change the course of this project.

DOT's kickoff design phase meeting: June 23, 2009 at the Depot "




to Annie wrote on May 20, 2009 1:44 PM:

" A good place to get some information is City of Palmer Web Site. Enter Palmer Urban Traffic Study in the search box. That will pull up not only the study but also the minutes of meetings. You can also go to PalmerCouplet.com (DOT website). Kinney Engineering was hired by the State in 2006 to complete the Study. In July 2007 a review of the PUTS was presented to council. DOT/Kinney Engineering had an open house 8/22/07. MSB TAB voted on 8/23/07 to support the couplet. City Council voted 9/11/07 to support couplet. "




Annie wrote on May 20, 2009 3:39 AM:

" I attended the meeting, and more are supposedly planned. The presentation explained nothing more than why they had chosen a certain Plan 3.

Since I am new to this issue, I wanted to ask who hired Kenny Engineering to create the couplet?Why wasn't more public input allowed earlier on? Who was it who presumed this would add anything to Palmer?

I came away feeling, more than ever, that the couplet project is a huge waste of millions of dollars, and if it goes ahead, it will ruin Palmer, and harm businesses and residents. "




Pioneer Peak wrote on May 19, 2009 9:14 PM:

" To those that are seeking entry and exit out of Palmer more quickly, try Arctic to access the Glenn. Or Dogwood that has a controlled access between Fred Meyer's and the Post Office. That should help you in and out of Palmer more quickly.

There are many other alternatives that can help with congestion relief other than the couplet. Controlled access (stop light) at Inner Springer at the Glenn to help traffic coming from employment centers in the Industrial Area. Stop light at S. Colony Way that meets up with the Glenn. +more alternatives. "




wondering wrote on May 19, 2009 4:29 PM:

" If thie new plan will "calm" Palmer and provide more walking areas, my question is why, Palmer fails miserably when it is winter, keeping what sidewalks they have now cleared, and now they want more sidewalks, so we will have smaller lanes to drive on and more sidewalks filled with snow, forcing people to walk in the roads. Palmer needs to keep what they have and learn how to keep the sidewalks clear during the winter. "




Annie wrote on May 19, 2009 1:19 PM:

" Thank you very much for this article!

Now it makes sense. Walmart must be behind the whole peculiar push to build these unnecessary roads through Palmer.

I was inclined to be against the roads, but if Walmart is involved I have no doubt I am dead set against it.

Walmart is a cancer that ruins communities. I don't buy their cheap junk, and I don't like the way they run their businesses, or ruin communities. "




Rhonda wrote on May 19, 2009 12:26 PM:

" The Palmer City Council must have extremely short noses that they can't seem to see past. The couplet will not only be dangerous, w/ faster traffic in a walking environment, it will also be damaging to small businesses and tourism. Palmer citizens and business people have been slowly renewing a historic downtown district that has great tourist destination potential. We should all be willing to toss that in favor of accomodating Walmart? No thank you. "




Lorie wrote on May 19, 2009 6:34 AM:

" Palmer currently is a "destination" worth driving to. The couplet is to ease congestion according to ADOT. The engineers do not live in our town. They do not understand the pride Palmer takes in being a historic, unique destination. Philip Slater wrote in The Pursuit of Loneliness, "Our approach to transportation problems has had the effect of making it easier and easier to travel to more places that have become less and less worth driving to." If the couplet goes forward, Palmer will no longer offer the same historic charm it currently has. Stop the couplet. "




Lorie wrote on May 19, 2009 6:31 AM:

" Many towns across the country are going back to two-way streets because one-way streets devastated their town. In Main Streets & Transportation Policies: Smart Growth Tools for Main Streets it states:"The safe&efficient movement of people and goods should not come @ the expense of community livability and quality of life. The side effects of road building on the character &values of a town can&must be taken into account b4 transportation projects are approved. Communities have a right to expect this and should take all steps necessary to ensure that it is done." Call your city council,city manager, mayor. "




Pioneer Peak wrote on May 18, 2009 5:55 PM:

" Call Senators Menard and Huggins, Representatives Gatto and Stoltze. Ask them to help redirect/reappropriate the allocated funds to other congestion relief alternatives other than the couplet.
Your voice counts. Make it heard.

Who does council work for, who does the manager work for? Let them know how you feel verbally or by writing letters. Through the strong voice of the people, you can make a difference.
How blessed we are to live in America where we can voice our opinion. "




Pioneer Peak wrote on May 18, 2009 5:36 PM:

" In an article in the ADN dated 6/27/2008 referring to the couplet, Mr. Allen is quoted "What it does is not only provide safety, it provides the City of Palmer with an economic zone on the PWH." "I'm speaking primarily of the Wal-Mart store. We are engaged in discussions with Wal-Mart." Mr. Allen further states that DOT plans to spend $18 Million on the Project. Palmer and Wal-Mart will pay for some related projects, he said.

Call your city council, mayor, manager, the Governor, and tell them no to the couplet. "




Wal-Mart Pay your Own Way. wrote on May 18, 2009 2:49 PM:

" Wal-Mart Yes or Wal-Mart No. Let Wal-Mart Pay whatever it takes to upgrade the roads for their Store with their Money. DOT already told Wal-Mart what Road upgrades they would require for their Store. Don't use your money in the form of City, State or Fed. Funds. That's right every Tax Payer would be funding Wal-Marts Access. Oh Yea, Don't forget what this Crazy Notion will do to the Roads in Downtown Palmer and surrounding areas. City Council look at the Big Picture. Follow the Money, who is pushing for this Couplet? "




Duh wrote on May 18, 2009 12:29 PM:

" I live in Palmer but I want everything Wasilla, Eagle River and/or Anchorage has! (Um..I can't remember why I live here...)

I want to see ALL of Alaska paved, heavy-laden with traffic lights and shopping malls! That way, I don't have to wallow my lazy butt too far from the sofa to get more pretzels and popcorn before returning home to watch 'Oprah' and 'Entertainment Tonight'! "




DJ wrote on May 18, 2009 9:17 AM:

" RahRah; 'Palmer is a dying town'? How do you figure that? It doesn't look any smaller now than it did back in '79. In fact, it's quite a bit busier.

Brittany; Why do you live here? Move to Anchorage! Only a moron would choose to live in a small town and then complain that she doesn't have all the services of a big one! "




observer wrote on May 18, 2009 9:00 AM:

" If a business can come to town and do a better job then you. Don't try to stop it from coming , try to do a better job. I would love walmart to come in and love a faster way to get in and out of palmer. It is not up to us to keep people in business. People do not travel to Palmer for small shops, that is all we have so that is where we go. Why should wasilla have jobs and Palmer drive there. Lets get Walmart in Palmer! Awesome! "




Concerned Mislead wrote on May 18, 2009 7:23 AM:

" This started w/ Wal-Mart. There are so many other Exits & Entrances to Palmer. Put Controlled Light @ Arctic / Valley Way for Safe Exit or Arctic / Airport, for quick Gov't Office Exits. These are important to Palmer, give them a Safe easy exit, but don't screw up the rest of the town with that Couplet. Also Council mislead decision being made Sept. 11, 2007. Prior Council meeting masked as Review, Didn't say this was it for Public Comment. They did ressolution to accept 20 days after depo Presentation Aug. 22, 2007 "




Brittany wrote on May 17, 2009 9:30 PM:

" It is a good change to have Walmart anhd less gas would be great so we dont have to buy more gas r reacquire 15 milles away!

Why stay the same??? Change is good!!! Stop whining and worry about your little shops to suffer because it wont happen!!! "




Concerned wrote on May 17, 2009 4:47 PM:

" At the present time there are two lanes of traffic going into Palmer, and two lanes of traffic going out of Palmer, the only real problem is when going into Palmer vehicles turn left to get to the gas station and into the Dairy Queen or the first driveway for Fred Meyer's. With this new plan there will be two lanes going into Palmer and only one lane leaving Palmer, there will be no improvement in traffic flow and this could all be handled with a simple no left turn into the three mentioned driveways during selected hors. "




Walmart already bought the land wrote on May 17, 2009 10:24 AM:

" Walmart is more than just interested in the land. They bought it and now are waiting for this road so they will have easy cheap access to their store. They do not want to dump onto the Palmer Wasilla Highway because the State has more requirements and will cost walmart more. Once we allow one big box store in nothing will stop the rest. Palmer will look like Wasilla soon. Go to the meetings. 7mRdF "




Lorie wrote on May 17, 2009 9:14 AM:

" I have spoken to many citizens, Palmer voters, as well as community members that live just outside city limits, but also ithe surrounding area, that are absolutely opposed to this project. The reaction is absolute surprise that Palmer City Council would even consider such a thing. Palmer is a unique town. That is why Palmer has become a "destination" to drive to because we have a town that is walkable, easy to access, and shops that people want to visit. As well as the spectacular scenery. Help stop the couplet, sign the petition. "




Lorie K wrote on May 17, 2009 8:59 AM:

" Just to clarify, the couplet is slated to be a three-lane, one way couplet. A petition
for an initiative for an Ordinance Precluding One-Way Couplets in Palmer is in the works. Our goal is to have that petition ready in the next 10-14 days. It will be presented to Palmer City Clerk for certification the week of 5/18. Please help us let City Council, City Manager, and our Mayor know this is not what Palmer needs or wants. Come sign the petition at local businesses. If you want to sign, call Lorie 355-3153. "




RahRAh wrote on May 17, 2009 7:08 AM:

" Why would Wal-mart want to come to this miserable town? everyone moans and groans about everything, it's not even appealing to seniors, too much pioneer politic's. This is a dying town. The Valley Hotel Cafe looks like a truck stop. "




Nimby. wrote on May 17, 2009 12:24 AM:

" I agree, go to Wasilla if you need a Wally World Fix! Keep Palmer like it is. The reason for the couplet is clear WALMART WALMART WALMART! More tax revenue, more full time city employees just like tax and spend Bill Allen. And by the way that's what happens when you vote yes on road bonds. Wake up voters. "




Ben C wrote on May 16, 2009 10:22 PM:

" Why would we need a Wal-Mart in Palmer? Is that drive ALL the way to Wasilla that much of an incovenience? (For those that answer 'yes' I say...move to Wasilla then!) Reminds me of Anchorage where there's a McDonalds every 4 blocks. "