Paramount Theatre
I-35 Emissions
RECEIVED Wed., Feb. 2, 2022
Dear Editor,
It’s sad that just three months after the Glasgow climate summit, in their commentary on IH 35 expansion [“Making Good Trouble on I-35,” Austin at Large, Jan. 28], [“Brave New World,” Public Notice, Jan. 28] neither Mike Clark-Madison nor Nick Barbaro mention the greenhouse gas implications of the monstrosity TXDOT is trying to foist off on us. To start with, roughly 38% of a highway project’s lifetime emissions result from construction, ensuring a big greenhouse gas release right up front.* Then if the project works as designed, there’ll be more cars, with more emissions for decades. And finally, if the 26-lane Katy Freeway in Houston is any indication, it won’t work as planned, leading to massive traffic jams and more emissions.
It’s sad that just three months after the Glasgow climate summit, in their commentary on IH 35 expansion [“Making Good Trouble on I-35,” Austin at Large, Jan. 28], [“Brave New World,” Public Notice, Jan. 28] neither Mike Clark-Madison nor Nick Barbaro mention the greenhouse gas implications of the monstrosity TXDOT is trying to foist off on us. To start with, roughly 38% of a highway project’s lifetime emissions result from construction, ensuring a big greenhouse gas release right up front.* Then if the project works as designed, there’ll be more cars, with more emissions for decades. And finally, if the 26-lane Katy Freeway in Houston is any indication, it won’t work as planned, leading to massive traffic jams and more emissions.
Philip Russell