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Interchange exchange: Information gathering or 'dog and pony show'? By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Medford resident Ila Richardson thought Tuesday's meeting about the south Medford freeway interchange was interesting, but she doesn't expect it to change a thing. "I think they're just allowing citizens to blow off steam," Richardson said. "It's a done deal." A steady stream of residents listened to state experts at the Medford Armory talk Tuesday night about their plans to spend $50 million to relocate the Barnett Road interchange. The Oregon Department of Transportation wants to build a new interchange south of the existing one, connecting Garfield Street on the west side to Highland Drive on the east. The original public comment period for the proposal ended Dec. 3. The Federal Highway Administration extended it through Monday at the request of city officials. The delay gave ODOT another opportunity to get more information out to the public, said Gary Leaming, project information specialist. "The neighborhood issues are important to us," Leaming said. Susan McKenzie and her daughter Claire stood outside the armory during the event, holding protest signs and wearing gags. "This is another dog and pony show for the Highland alternative expansion," said McKenzie, a member of the Rogue Valley Transportation District board of directors. "(ODOT) has got this false sense of public participation. The process is a non-process." A citizens group against the interchange plans also distributed fliers at the meeting. Medford resident Dale Lininger was at Tuesday's meeting even though he attended ODOT's first public open house in October. "I wanted to show my support for the (Highland) build option," Lininger said. "I think it's beneficial to get as much information out there as possible." Medford resident Jim Fernlund, a former member of the city planning commission, said he doesn't support the interchange proposal and would rather see the state spend money on a beltline road around Medford. He did, however, praise ODOT's efforts to get the information to the public. "At least they're presenting it to the people before they pour the concrete," Fernlund said. "You might not agree with it, but at least they present it." The interchange will be the topic of ODOT's live television program, "Moving Ahead with ODOT," at 6 p.m. today on Rogue Valley Television Channel 9. Viewers are invited to join the discussion by calling in to the one-hour program. The phone number is 552-6079. Written public comments on the project can be sent to Greg Holthoff, ODOT Environmental Project Manager, 1158 Chemeketa St. N.E., Salem, OR 97301, through 5 p.m. Monday. However, Holthoff is urging residents to e-mail their comments to make sure they arrive before the deadline. The address to send to is [email protected]. A decision on the project will come from the 15-member South Medford Interchange Solutions Team, a group of public officials and business owners. Public comments will be incorporated into the next step in the process, a new draft environmental impact statement. Work on the project is expected to begin in 2005. It won't be complete until 2007. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.