November 28 vote scheduled on resolution to drop plans for "wasteful"$40 million interchange project


TROY, Mich. Newly elected Troy City Councilman Wade Fleming isn't wasting any time living up to his campaign promise to end what he calls the "wasteful" $40 million interchange proposal at I-75 and Long Lake Road. That campaign promise was a major factor in leading Fleming and incumbent Christina Broomfield to an overwhelming victory in the November 8 election in Troy. At the Monday, November 21 meeting of the Troy City Council, Fleming informed Council that at the Council's next regular meeting on Monday, November 28, he intended to introduce two resolutions that would effectively terminate the project.

The first resolution states that the City of Troy is no longer interested in the construction of on/off exit or entry ramps (or collector distributor roads) on I-75 at Long Lake Road and that the project is to be abandoned without qualification. The second resolution calls for the sale of land previously purchased by the City as right-of-way for construction at Long Lake Road.

An affirmative vote on the resolutions by a majority of Council will conclude a nearly two-year long fight by thousands of citizens and White Chapel Memorial Cemetery to block the proposed interchange. More than 10,000 people have signed petitions protesting the interchange plan, the City's own survey and another independent survey showed people overwhelmingly opposed to it, and a grass-roots community organization, the STOP INTERCHANGE NOW! Citizens Coalition (SIN) was formed to combat the project.

Residents who campaigned strongly against the interchange are concerned about a tax increase to pay for the project, the loss of green space, the impact on neighborhoods, and the traffic dangers and noise that would be caused by the widening of Long Lake Road into a major thoroughfare.

White Chapel and SIN are encouraging those who have fought the interchange to attend the November 28 Council meeting to show their support for the resolutions.

"This has been a two-year battle in which the previous City Council refused to honor the wishes of the people," said David R. Krall, Vice President and General Counsel of White Chapel Cemetery. "Council, led by Mayor Schilling, Robin Beltramini and Jeanne Stine, did their best to force this project onto residents, despite the outrageous costs. We are thankful and appreciative of Council members David Lambert and Martin Howrylak who spoke out against this project from the beginning. Now, with their help, it is time to put this project to rest, once and for all."

Linda Thielfoldt, Executive Director of SIN, said, "The sale of the previously purchased land is important as it will generate funds that can be targeted at improving our community and enhancing green space. These are the important issues facing Troy. We will work to see some of the funds directed to the implementation of the Civic Center Task Force guidelines for Civic Center Park, which will be a benefit to the entire community."