Mr.
Joel
Glenn August 4, 2003 Re:
Final
Environmental
Impact
Statement
(EIS):
Bridge
of
Lions,
St.
Augustine,
Florida Dear Mr. Glenn, Upon review of the final EIS for the Bridge of Lions rehabilitation project, I would like to convey sincere appreciation for your efforts in composing this document. Save Our Bridge fully supports your department’s Recommended Alternative (Option 1A). It is the proper response to both the need for improved safety and the historical significance of the bridge. Throughout the Summary and Sections 1-5 there are many changes to the text and updates to the graphs and tables from the draft released in 1998. The most notable difference is the Tonnage Along the Intracoastal Waterway (p 1-21) which now separates the tonnage Through the Bridge of Lions from Jacksonville to Miami, deflating the need for the Coast Guard’s guide clearance of 125 ft. Section 6: Comments and Coordination makes a compelling case for rehabilitation. On local, state and national levels, the public outcry for preservation of this cherished historic structure is impressive. There are numerous resolutions and letters from community organizations, boards and municipalities throughout the state in support of rehabilitation. Included among the advocates for preservation are national organizations such as the American Institute of Architects and the Society for Industrial Archeology. Congressional Representatives John Mica and Corrine Brown also registered their choice for rehabilitation rather than replacement. Secretary of State Katherine Harris set the tone for the public hearing on June 7, 1999 with her strong remarks as the Chief Historic Preservation Officer. The public comments that followed demonstrated overwhelming support for your chosen option. Both the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation were represented at this important meeting to reinforce the national significance of the Bridge of Lions. Save Our Bridge presented a petition for the record in support of Option 1A with close to 6,000 signatures. The opinions of the residents of St. Augustine are more difficult to gauge. Your department is well aware that emotions run high when dealing with traffic congestion. The nature of small town politics further distorts the issue. Our comment to the draft EIS, dated July 4, 1999, addressed this issue as logically as possible. We presented documented information to reflect how residents feel about the Bridge of Lions debate. The on-line poles taken by the St. Augustine Record echoed other resources for tracking public opinion. The results showed 66-72 percent of participants in favor of restoration. The Record conducted yet another poll on February 26, 2002 asking the same question “Should the Bridge of Lions be restored or replaced?” Of the1470 respondents 73 percent were in favor of restoration. Jim Sutton, editor of the St. Augustine Record, wrote a Sunday edition front-page editorial on July 18, 1999 stating their support for Option 1A (Attachment 1). As the main newspaper this city the Record was heavily lobbied by advocates on both sides of the debate and the paper published countless submitted editorials spanning the last decade. On May 12, 2002 the Record ran an editorial written by the new editor Jim Baltzelle, Restating our support for the Bridge of Lions (Attachment 2). Both editorials are thoughtful and well informed and should be part of FDOT’s record of this process. Save Our Bridge was formed to advocate the rehabilitation of the Bridge of Lions with FDOT, but also to educate and inform the public. Our web site is used as a resource for preservation groups across the country. We will continue to monitor and promote this rehabilitation throughout construction and look forward to the completion of this important project. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Sincerely, Theresa
Segal.
President cc:
Craig
A.
Teal,
P.E.,
Project
Manager
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